When to Keep Your Child Home from School
At Thomastown Meadows Primary School, the health and safety of all students is our priority. If your child is unwell, keeping them home helps them recover and protects other students. Use the guide below to check when your child should stay home and when they can return.
| 🦠Illness / Condition | ⏰ Stay Home Until… | 💡 Notes for Parents |
|---|---|---|
| COVID‑19 | At least 5 days from positive test and symptoms resolved | Children with COVID-like symptoms should stay home until fully recovered. |
| Chickenpox | All blisters have dried (usually ~5 days for unimmunised children) | Keep unwell children home to prevent spreading to others. |
| Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) | Eye discharge has stopped | Children can return once eyes are clear and not watery or sticky. |
| Diarrhoea / Vomiting | 24 hours symptom-free | Helps prevent outbreaks at school. |
| Mumps | 5 days after swelling starts, or fully recovered | Monitor swelling and general health. |
| Rubella (German Measles) | 4 days after rash appears or fully recovered | Children should be fully recovered before returning. |
| Whooping Cough (Pertussis) | 21 days from cough onset, or 5 days after starting antibiotics | Inform the school if your child is diagnosed. |
| Head Lice, Ringworm, Scabies | After starting treatment | Treat promptly and follow school advice to prevent spread. |
| Streptococcal infections / Scarlet Fever | 24 hours after starting antibiotics and feeling well | Keep child home until fully recovered. |
| Other serious illnesses | As advised by doctor or health authority | Always follow medical guidance. |
âś… Parent Tips:
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If you’re unsure, contact your family doctor or the school office.
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Notify the school if your child is absent due to illness.
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Keeping unwell children at home protects everyone and ensures your child can return ready to learn.
Health Department School Exclusion Table
Please Note: If there is a confirmed case of measles at the school and your child is not immunised, they will be excluded until 14 days after the first day of appearance of the rash in the last case. If unimmunised contacts are vaccinated within 72 hours of their first contact with the first case they may return to school.
These are the minimum exclusion periods as required under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations (Schedule 7). Schools should follow these rules. For any medical questions or complicated situations, parents and carers should consult a registered medical practitioner.
COVID‑19 (Coronavirus SARS‑CoV‑2)
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Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home for a minimum of 5 days from the date of the positive test. They may return to school when they are no longer symptomatic.
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Anyone — student or staff — experiencing symptoms associated with COVID‑19 (e.g. cough, sore throat, fever, runny nose, shortness of breath, chills/sweats) should stay home and should not attend school until symptoms resolve.
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The school will continue to implement recommended COVID‑safe practices including good personal hygiene, maximising ventilation and airflow (e.g. open windows, air purifiers), and encouraging vaccination for those eligible.
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If a student becomes symptomatic during the school day, parents/carers will be asked to collect the child. The child should remain at home until fully recovered.
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Schools will treat any health information (e.g. a positive COVID-19 result) confidentially, in line with privacy guidelines. Department of Education Victoria+1
