As the new school term begins, UKHSA emphasises simple hygiene practices and vaccination to combat rising infections like measles, flu, and COVID-19, helping to prevent classroom disruptions during the winter season.
Parents are being urged to act on simple hygiene advice as the new school term begins, with the UK Health Security Agency warning that common seasonal infections can quickly disrupt classroom attendance. The agency says children should be taught to wash their hands well with soap and warm water, cover coughs and sneezes with tissues and stay away from others when they are unwell.
UKHSA also says a child with a mild cough or common cold can usually attend school or nursery if they are otherwise well and do not have a fever. But children with a temperature should stay at home until they have recovered, while those with diarrhoea or vomiting should remain off school for at least 48 hours after the last episode.
The guidance comes as schools prepare for the return of winter bugs including flu, COVID-19 and norovirus. UKHSA says letting fresh air into indoor spaces can help reduce the spread of airborne viruses, and it is again urging families to make sure routine vaccinations are up to date.
Measles remains a particular concern. UKHSA says children with symptoms should not attend school if they have not had both doses of the MMR or MMRV vaccine, and should stay away until four days after the rash began. The warning follows a sharp rise in cases: England recorded 2,911 laboratory-confirmed measles infections in 2024 and 960 in 2025, with outbreaks concentrated in London, the West Midlands and the North West. Scarlet fever and chickenpox are also among the illnesses that can spread readily in classrooms, although scarlet fever is generally treated with antibiotics and children should stay off school for 24 hours after the first dose.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
