Promoting Good Health and Managing Illness
Promoting good health and well-being is vital to our work at St George's. We do this through:
1. Our curriculum. We promote physical health, emotional health and resilience across our curriculum.
2. Promoting daily exercise and opportunities for sports and well-being in our community.
3. Promoting our 'eat-well challenge'.
4. Working with families and other agencies with support for physical health, sleep, toileting, mental health, emotional well-being, dental health and lots more!
5. Having robust processes in place to support children with medical needs and the management of medication (if needed)
6. Encouraging a safe, healthy environment through:
- Effective cleaning
- Good hygiene
- Good ventilation.
Families may also wish to visit our:
Health Watch Wirral pastoral link
Managing Illness
There is a lot of information for schools and families regarding how we stay healthy and manage illness. These include:
Education Hub Blog: Reducing the spread of illness this winter: Seven steps to healthier schools and higher school attendance.
- NHS Guidance for Parents: Is my child too ill for school? – a useful resource to help parents decide when children should stay at home.
- Preventing and Controlling Infections Guidance: Includes advice on vaccination, ventilation and good respiratory hygiene.
- A–Z of managing Infectious Diseases: Practical guidance on managing specific illnesses.
Minor illnesses are normal. We need to help our children manage these and develop the resilience that we need to be healthy and happy.
If your child is seriously unwell, refer to the guidance above, contact your GP or use the NHS 111 service.
If you would like to speak with a member of our team, please complete our contact us form.
Coughs and Colds
It's fine to send your child to school with a slight cough or common cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat or headache, as long as they're otherwise well and do not have a high temperature.
But if they have a high temperature, keep them off school until the temperature has gone.
Feeling Anxious or Worried
It's normal for children to feel a little anxious sometimes. They may get a tummy ache or headache, or have problems eating or sleeping.
Avoiding school can make a child's anxiety about going to school worse. It is important that we teach children that the adults are here to look after them and help address anything that is causing them anxiety.
It's good to talk about any worries they may have, such as bullying, friendship problems, school work or sensory problems. You can also work with the school to find ways to help them.
If your child is still struggling and it's affecting their everyday life, it might be good to talk to your GP or attend a Wirral school nurse drop-in session (See below)
Find information and advice about how to help children with anxiety
Vaccinations
Working with our colleagues at Wirral Council and Wirral Community NHS Trust, we promote vaccination for protection. Vaccination is one of the most powerful evidence-based measures that protects against preventable illnesses.
School Age Immunisation Services (SAIS) will deliver free flu vaccinations to all school children in England (from reception to year 11) at school every Autumn.
o We encourage anyone with questions or concerns to speak to a health visitor, school nurse, GP or the SAIS team 03333 583 397 option 7 then 2
o Further information can be found at: Children's flu vaccine - NHS
We fully acknowledge that families have the right to make personal choices about vaccinations, but just ask that these are informed. There is a lot of misinformation regarding vaccination.
We know that many parents may have questions regarding the flu vaccination and how this is administered. Mr Cassidy and school governors must follow: .Gov.Uk Flu Vaccination guidance on this matter.
As per DfE advice, we are not legally permitted to authorise absences due to vaccinations.
