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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Nit patrol

16 replies

Nachooo · 02/02/2020 15:24

Hi all,
I live in Hertfordshire England and am new to this site. I wonder please if anyone has any information on teachers or school nurses being allowed to check your child’s hair with a nit comb? I’m led to understand that in this day and age they are not allowed to touch your Childs hair unless first given permission, is this correct?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Patchworksack · 02/02/2020 15:29

I think the days of being lined up for inspection by Nitty Nora bug explorer are gone, but this is not a good thing.

GolfForBrains · 02/02/2020 15:31

If someone has told you that your child has nits, thank them and deal with it.

Elbeagle · 02/02/2020 15:35

I don’t know if they are allowed or not, but I would be grateful if someone let me know my child had nits so I could treat promptly. I wish they still had nit nurses!

inwood · 02/02/2020 15:39

I wish they still had nit nurses too! Some kids are blatantly not getting treated / conned at home and keep reinfecting DDs class.

Why do you ask?

Original poster

Nachooo · 02/02/2020 15:44

I ask as one of my children has been checked at school and not only checked but had a bit comb used through their hair, without my permission or even a telephone call home first. Also, I did not supply school with the need to comb, so who’s next come have they used? My child had however, just been treated within the last 24 hours of this incident

OP posts:

Original poster

Nachooo · 02/02/2020 15:45

Sorry, blasted phone! What I meant to say was, I did not supply the school with a comb so I am wondering as to who’s home they used?

OP posts:

Elbeagle · 02/02/2020 15:53

Sounds like they’ve had a few cases and are trying to keep it under control.
Seriously not something I’d get worked up about.

MiniMum97 · 02/02/2020 16:00

You should be pleased. More schools should be checking and maybe it would reduce the amount of toxic chemicals we need to apply to children's heads!

Pud2 · 02/02/2020 17:40

Can’t understand why anyone would be annoyed about this?

theendoftheendoftheend · 02/02/2020 17:57

Why would touching a child's hair be illegal? I have helped children put their hair up previously. I have also had cause to subtly remove a waving nit from the fringe of a child who consistently came to school with nits, to try and save her from embarrassment before her friends saw it.

MumofTinies · 02/02/2020 18:05

Whether they are allowed to or not they have done you a favour. The earlier you catch an infestation, the easier it is to treat. I think your focus right now needs to be treating the infestation to make your child more comfortable, to avoid other children noticing and preventing other children from catching lice.

MissDollyMix · 02/02/2020 18:10

I actually cannot believe you have the nerve to whine about this! I have just spent the weekend de-lousing my DD. It was horrible and I am mortified that she may have passed them on to her friends. I will be in touch with the school on Monday morning asking them to pass on a friendly reminder/warning to the other parents to check for nits. I can bet 9/10 parents won’t though. I bloody wish the school still did check for nits. I really don’t want DD to catch them back again.

Original poster

Nachooo · 02/02/2020 18:32

‘ Nerve to whine’?
I am not in the habit of whining, at 45 yrs of age, however, I did join this site to ask, in my opinion, a perfectly reasonable question...

OP posts:

Elbeagle · 02/02/2020 18:53

Why are you upset that they checked?

dwum · 02/02/2020 19:18

Why are you upset? What exactly is bothering you? Is it that you missed it? (I wouldn't worry, lots of parents do).

One of my students was scratching recently, I had a very quick look with my fingers (not nit comb) and could clearly see lots of eggs. Called the mum who took her child away and thanked me for being observent.

I don't know any teacher who has time or the inclination to inspect the heads in her classroom but we would all like to have the prospect of lice removed.

Dutchesss · 02/02/2020 20:25

Can’t understand why anyone would be annoyed about this?
It depends on the child, but I know a fair few who would be mortified by having a teacher comb their hair and diagnose headlice.
Looking discreetly is one thing, and I'd be happy for someone to tell me. But to comb a child at school in front of peers could be degrading.

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