From a schools point of view how long should a child be kept off with a cold?

[pepsi]

Colds nowadays seem to last for quite a while. You know how you feel really bad at the beginning but then after a day or too it may be just a runny nose. I was wondering from a school point of view and to stop bugs spreading how long schools liked parents to keep their children away from school. Surely for instance you wouldnt keep a child off for a whole week with a cold...or would you. I havent had this situation yet and just wondered.

Forever until it's gone!!! Says me, sat here with stinking cold in classroom - cold probably coming from a child last week

No, seriously. For many children there is no reason to stay at home woth a cold, unless they feel too unwell to come in. That's the message from DD's nursery anyway.

I don't keep my child off school with a cold unless they have a temperature. Although saying that my kids have never had a cold where they have felt so bad that they stopped jumping around like lunatics

I agree with Kayleigh. Definitely do not send a child in with a temperature although I know mums that do. I would also keep them off if they were very lethargic and would benefit from some tlc. I would never send my kids in if they had any kind of infection with the cold either!

If no temperature, no chesty cough suggesting bacterial infection, and otherwise "well in self", then I've heard that the (rather gruesome) test ought to be Green Snot. Idea being that if thick & green, virus is still being shed; so keep off till running clear. At least it's an easy test!

But I also know that views vary, and some people would think that was being too cautious & green snot is just a fact of life ...

Blimey, not at all surely? Kids would never be at school otherwise. Its only a cold.

Agree with Hulababy if the child has a temp and feels unwell, then keep them off school...but if they are merely streaming with snot then off they go.

P.S as a 4/5 colds a winter person I would never be at work either if I applied this to me.

...I think the green snot thing is more to do with whether it is a bacterial infection that may benefit from antiobiotics

From an ex-teacher's point of view, I never worried about whether the children had a cold or not. Most adults are immune from most cold bugs, most children aren't too ill with colds to worry about passing it around, and, if I did catch a cold, I just looked upon it as a hazard of the job. A tummy bug is another matter.... I wish parents would understand that a child not eating as usual really shouldn't go to school!

Thanks everyone, so the general concensus is to go to school with a cold unless theres a temperature or its a really bad one. Good to know. Quite right about tummy bugs though, I can handle a snotty child but no ones thanks for for days of poo and vomit!

I thought that a cold was most infectious before the symptons showed, and once you start sneezing and running with snot your getting past infecting people (tho being a bit antisocial )

Handlemecarefully, have you tried taking zinc supplements to build up your resistance to colds? Much better than Vit C, which doesn't stop you getting a cold, but does help you to get rid of the symptoms quicker.

My ds will go to school, unless too poorly to get up and walk there.

I'm evil mum. Had a school assistant call me up once to tell me that DD2 was coughing at school and maybe I should take her home. I replied that she'd only cough at home and should stay at school, cough and learn. They never call me now. Of course I need three weeks notice of fatal illness lol so the kids know not to bother. When they are ill though, I put them to bed. No tv or treats. Lots of love and kisses etc, but the point is if they are really ill then they won't be bothered by the lack of tv (they'll be asleep) and also they won't try it on because home is too boring.

Ours have to stay off if they're running a temperature, stomach bugs - must have a clear 48 hours from last sickness or if they generally feel under the weather.

Child in DD1s class threw up over the classroom table yesterday (sits on DD1s table). Child was back in school this morning and then proceeded to throw up again on the classroom carpet!! Some parents really p* me off.

Headache high temp or vomiting stay home ANYTHING minor out he goes

It would pee me off too.

Slinky, I think that sort of parent should be made to clear the mess up and be spoken to most severely.

sorry to hijack - but what would you do about coughing on top of a cold? dd was up most of the night last night coughing (dry cough) and she stayed off nursery today with dh who had a day off anyway. if she stays off tomorrow it means i take the day off to stay with her. this really isn't a problem but what would you advise re other kids at her nursery being exposed to her? Is a cough seen as worse than a kid with a cold being sent to school /nursery? sorry to sound a bit thick but she's not been ill very often at all so i don't really know what to do for the best. she's pretty ok in herself, i would say but is coughing very frequently and i spose must be very tired from the lack of sleep.

No, I wouldn't worry about a cough Moomin....