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Various Royal Colleges have co-signed a letter with the Chief Medical Officer in England on school attendance and mild illness.
The aim of the letter is to support GPs in their work with families, including when it is fine for children and young people to attend school with a mild illness, such as a minor cough or cold.
The letter has been signed by Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair, Royal College of General Practitioners, Pat Cullen, General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing, Dr Camilla Kingdon, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, William Roberts, Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health and Dr Lade Smith, President, Royal College of Pyschiatrists.
It says that the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have stretched well beyond the health sector. In particular, there has been a rise in school absences, with a large proportion attributable to illness. This is because some parents feel less confident with assessing whether their child is well enough to be in school and be concerned that it is less socially acceptable to send their child in when they are ill.
Great benefit from school attendance
There is wide agreement among health professionals and educational professionals that school attendance is vital to the life chances of children and young people. Being in school improves health, wellbeing and socialisation throughout the life course. The greatest benefits come from children and young people attending school regularly.
The letter refers to the ‘is my child too ill for school’ guidance to support parents in their decision-making and encourage GPs to share this with their practices and patients.
It says that in addition to respiratory illnesses, they are aware that after the worst of the pandemic more children may be absent from school due to symptoms of anxiety. Parents often need reassurance that worry and mild or moderate anxiety, whilst sometimes difficult emotions, can be a normal part of growing up for many children and young people.
They say that being in school can often help alleviate the underlying issues. A prolonged period of absence is likely to heighten a children’s anxiety about attending in the future, rather than reduce it.
The letter asks that GPs continue supporting families to build up children’s confidence to attend school regularly and to encourage those who are experiencing persistent symptoms to access additional support.