Preventing and managing common childhood illnesses
Preventing outbreaks:
· The Government guidance for settings to help prevent the spread of infection is here Preventing and controlling infections - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
· We recommend displaying this poster in your school office area which summaries the guidance on when to keep children off school Should I keep my child off school checklist poster (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Responding to outbreaks:
· If you believe your school has an outbreak the Government guidance on how to respond is here Managing outbreaks and incidents - GOV.UK
· Many infectious diseases can be managed by reinforcing the measures recommended in Preventing and controlling infections and by:
o encouraging all people who are unwell not to attend the setting or remain separate from others, wherever possible – to find out if, and how long, people should be advised to stay away, check the table for public health exclusions.
o ensuring all eligible groups are enabled and supported to take up the offer of immunisation programmes
o ensuring occupied spaces are well ventilated and let fresh air in
o reinforcing good hygiene practices such as frequent cleaning and hand hygiene
o requesting that parents, carers or students inform the setting of a diagnosis of any infectious disease
- When there are several cases, or people are particularly unwell it may be appropriate to contact our Southwest UKHSA Health Protection Team (HPT). Their contact details are Telephone 0300 303 8162 (option 1, then option 1) or email swhpt@ukhsa.gov.uk
- The HPT will advise what actions are recommended and call a multi-agency meeting (commonly called an Incident Management Team (IMT)) if required.
School closures
- School closures or limiting people who are well from attending a school setting for public health reasons is only recommended in exceptional circumstances and as a last resort. When this decision is taken it should be discussed within a multi-agency meeting (commonly called an Incident Team Meeting (IMT)) before being implemented. An IMT will also advise when deep cleaning might be indicated. This is rarely required where schools are following routine cleaning practices.
- Always contact the South West UKHSA Health Protection Team in the first instance on 0300 303 8162 (option 1, then option 1) or
- Decisions to close on operational grounds however, e.g. high levels of staff absence, are made by the school.
E-Bug a free education resource for children and young people from ages 3 – 18
An exciting, fun free microbiology, hygiene and health education resource for children and young people from ages 3 – 18. providing resources for teachers and community groups including lesson plans and courses, interactive activities, handouts and worksheets.
to support children and young people to play their role in infection prevention and control and introduces pupils/ students to microbes, hygiene, vaccinations and antimicrobial resistance. More information can be found by visiting E-Bug : Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning
Health protection updates:
Invasive meningococcal disease in educational settings
Following the recent high-profile outbreaks of Meningococcal disease in Kent and Dorset these resources have been developed to help you understand what’s happening, what actions (if any) you need to take, and how UKHSA is supporting educational and early years settings during this outbreak Information for education settings in England regarding cases of invasive meningococcal disease - GOV.UK. Although these outbreaks have not occurred in Gloucestershire, we understand that some schools may have received queries from parents, staff and students who are concerned.
There are lot of different viruses and bacteria (including meningococcal bacteria) that cause meningitis and sepsis type symptoms. In 2024/25, there were 378 cases of meningococcal disease reported in England. Cases of viral and bacterial meningitis will continue to occur in the community, as they currently do. If a case of meningococcal disease or viral meningitis occurs in the community, UKHSA local health protection teams will advise on any action required, including communications to parents of children and young people in educational settings.
Measles
Actions for early years, education and childcare settings before there is a measles case
Measles is one of the most highly infectious diseases and is around five times more infectious than Covid-19, spreads very quickly from person to person, especially in early years, education and childcare settings.
With the number of reported measles cases in young people in the UK on the rise, the School Age Immunisation Team at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust is urging parents and guardians to check their children’s MMR status and make sure they are fully vaccinated against the disease. read more
- Symptoms of measles
At first, it can feel like a cold with a runny nose and a cough, sore red eyes (conjunctivitis) and a fever, but this is followed a few days later by a rash that spreads all over the body. See images of the measles rash on the NHS website.
- Protection against measles
The best way to protect a child against measles is to ensure they are fully vaccinated. Having two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) or Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent and control the spread of measles and provide excellent lifelong protection.
Children born before 1 January 2025 should have been offered the MMR vaccine as part of the UK national vaccination programme. Those born on or after 1 January 2025 should be offered the MMRV vaccine. They will be offered their first dose of MMRV at 12 months old and their second dose of MMRV at 18 months old.
Reasons for the change in the vaccinations and what vaccinations children should receive and when, can be found here
Older children and adults born on or before 31 December 2019 who are not up to date can be caught up for free on the NHS whatever their age using the MMR vaccine
To see if a child is up to date with their MMR/MMRV vaccines, you can check their Personal Child Health Record (PCHR), known as the red book, or contact their GP practice.
If a child attends either primary or secondary school, and they have never previously received the MMR vaccine, have only had one dose of it, or you’re not sure of their vaccination status, the School Age Immunisation Team can check the child’s record and arrange to give them their outstanding doses if needed. To contact the School Age Immunisation Team call 0300 421 8140 or email MMR.Immunisation@ghc.nhs.uk
Farm visits and risks
Visiting a farm is an enjoyable and educational experience for many people, particularly children. However, visiting a farm carries a small risk of catching an infection from animals or the environment. Farm animals can be a source of germs (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) that can be passed from animals to humans and cause illness. Some can cause serious illness in children, pregnant women and those with reduced immunity.
If you’re visiting farms, there are some simple hygiene steps to help reduce risk of catching infection from animals or the environment listed here Avoiding infection on farm visits; advice
Ticks
Ticks can carry infections, including Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. Ticks are most active between April and July, though they can be present all year round. They are commonly found in grassy and wooded areas, including farm environments and countryside paths popular with families during the holidays. People may get bitten by ticks wherever they spend time outdoors. To reduce the risk of tick bites
Tick aware posters and leaflets can be ordered for free here and can be shared with parents or teachers involved in organising outdoor activities.
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Job Vacancy
Lay Member Volunteer Vacancy at Gloucestershire Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP)
The death of a child is a devastating loss that profoundly affects bereaved parents as well as siblings, grandparents, extended family, friends and professionals who were involved in caring for the child in any capacity. Families experiencing such a tragedy should be met with empathy and compassion. They need clear and sensitive communication. They also need to understand what happened to their child and know that people will learn from what happened. The process (the Child Death Review process) of expertly reviewing all children’s deaths is grounded in deep respect for the rights of children and their families, with the intention of preventing future child deaths. This process is overseen by the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP).
The Gloucestershire Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) are seeking to recruit a Volunteer Independent Member commonly known as a Lay Member, to join them.
The Lay Member is a really important role, bringing additional expertise to the professional membership from statutory bodies, for example, through previous professional involvement with children and families, experience of local context and services or involvement with a voluntary sector organisation; and to be a voice independent of statutory agencies in this process.
This is a voluntary role, requiring attendance at 6–8 panel meetings per year, each lasting approximately 2–3 hours and held during working hours. Reasonable out‑of‑pocket expenses may be reimbursed, subject to approval.
Independent Lay Members are full participants on a multi‑agency panel, working alongside representatives from health, children’s social care, police, HM Coroner, education and other partner organisations, and provide an independent public perspective and constructive challenge without being professional or technical experts in the field.
How to apply: Please submit an expression of interest outlining what you would bring to the role to cdop@gloucestershire.gov.uk)
Closing date 7th May 2026.