School exclusion advice - paediatric emergency medicine
This section summarises the UK public‑health exclusion recommendations for common paediatric infections and provides practical, clinician‑facing wording to use in the ED. It follows the national GOV.UK exclusion table (Health protection in schools and other childcare facilities - children and young people settings: tools and resources).
Public‑health exclusion is distinct from educational or disciplinary suspension. Always direct parents and settings to the GOV.UK exclusion table for the definitive, up‑to‑date guidance and to the local UKHSA Health Protection Team (HPT) contact details on that page.
Core principles
- Public‑health exclusion is the period a child should stay away from school or nursery to reduce transmission. This is separate from school disciplinary exclusions.
- Children who are well enough to participate and have no fever may usually attend despite minor upper respiratory symptoms; specific exceptions are given below.
- Immediate contact with the local HPT is required for suspected or confirmed notifiable or high‑consequence infections (for example diphtheria, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, STEC). The HPT will advise on case management, contact tracing, exclusion of contacts and communications.
- Promote routine immunisation (MMR, meningococcal vaccines, etc.) as primary prevention for diseases that commonly lead to exclusion.
Quick reference - common conditions and public‑health exclusion
Clinical aide‑memoire. Consult the GOV.UK table for the complete and current list, special pathogens and outbreak...
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