Health and Wellbeing
Here at Bankton Primary School your child's health and wellbeing are one of our top priorities. We recognise the importance of health and wellbeing in creating successful learners.
Here you will find some useful information regarding the health and wellbeing of your child.
A Healthy Lifestyle at Bankton Primary
We work hard to promote a healthy lifestyle for our children by educating them about the benefits of a healthy diet, exercise and good quality sleep. For more information take a look at our Health and Wellbeing Strategy Paper (PDF) [107KB] (opens new window) .
How Can You Help?
- Encourage your child to enjoy a healthy and varied diet by providing a healthy lunch box. For great ideas to liven up your lunchboxes have a look at Change 4 Life - Healthier Lunch Boxes (opens new window)
- Send only water or flavoured water to school with your child - we are a fizzy free zone!!
- Walk with your child when you can and encourage your child to play outside regularly.
- Ensure a clear bedtime routine with a regular bedtime. For more information and support see Sleep Scotland (opens new window)
Illness - There will be times, however, when your child will be unwell. Here you will find some useful information about some of the more common childhood illnesses along with some advice.
Primary school children play closely with one another and their hygiene standards are sometimes not the most rigorous. A child's immune system hasn't been exposed to many viruses and infections so when a child first starts nursery or primary school it is no wonder their immune system takes a bit of a hit. Sometimes it feels like you are fighting a losing battle! Still, the more knowledgeable you are, the better prepared you will be to tackle whatever is ailing your child.
It is worth noting that we have a number of children in the school with compromised immune systems. If your child is unwell, with a high temperature, vomiting and or diarrhoea we would ask that you keep your child at home for 48 hours after the symptoms have improved.
Common Cold
Something which we are all too familiar with. Runny nose, sore throat, cough, muscle aches and high temperature (above 37.5c for children). Colds are normally relatively short lived but may take longer to resolve in children. More information on how to treat cold symptoms can be found here.
Can I send my child to school with a cold? - You probably can, but if they are feeling really unwell and have a temperature it is best they recover at home for a few days.
Vomiting and Diarrhoea
The dreaded tummy bug, often referred to in Winter as the Norovirus. As unpleasant as this is, vomiting and diarrhoea is normally a short lived illness and your child should be on the mend within 24 to 48 hours. Some helpful advice regarding the Norovirus can be found here.
Can I send my child to school with vomiting and diarrhoea? - No. West Lothian Council is very clear about this matter. Due to the highly contagious nature of the illness we ask that children are kept off school until at least 48 hours have passed since symptoms have improved. This means that even if your child was sick on Sunday night but feels fine on Monday morning, they should not be sent to school as the virus will be still active in theirr system.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is highly contagious and we normally see a peak of this during the Winter months and early Spring. Children develop a rash (turning into fluid filled blisters) and normally have a high temperature. Chickenpox is actually contagious for a few days prior to the spots appearing, which is why it spreads so fast through classes. Children are no longer contagious once the spots have crusted over. More information regarding Chicken Pox can be found here.
Can I send my child to school with Chickenpox? - The short answer is no. Although your child will have been contagious for a few days and been in and around the school we would ask you to not bring your child into school until the spots have crusted over. Despite this being a mild childhood illness, the high temperature and itchy rash can leave a child feeling fairly miserable. Best let them recover at home.
Scarlet Fever
In recent years the school has seen a number of cases of Scarlet Fever. This is a highly infectious virus and children usually recover very well within a few days of starting antibiotics. The virus presents as a red rash on the chest and face together with a high temperature, sore throat and often children are sick. More information regarding Scarlet Fever can be found here.
Can I send my child to school with Scarlet Fever? - Scarlet Fever is contagious before the virus actually makes itself known, that is before the rash appears. That said, your child will be unwell and we recommend that children are kept off school until 24 hours have passed since antibiotic treatment has been started.
Head Lice (Nits!)
Nobody really wants to talk about head lice! Head lice are very common in young children and are nothing to do with the cleanliness of your child's hair. Children do tend to play very closely together and head lice spread quickly with head to head contact. Thankfully (and the staff will agree!) head lice are easily sorted and more information about them and how to sort them can be found here.
Can I send my child to school with head lice? - Yes. There is no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice. Ensure that you start treating your child's hair for head lice as soon as you can.
Slapped Cheek Syndrome
This is really contagious and probably the least well known of childhood illnesses. Symptoms include, high temperature, runny nose, sore throat and red rash on the face. Children recover quickly from this, but may be out of sorts for a few days. More information about Slapped Cheek can be found here.
Can I send my child to school with Slapped Cheek? - Slapped Cheek, like Chicken Pox is actually contagious before your child shows any sign of illness. We don't insist that your child is kept off school if they have Slapped Cheek, however your child will more than likely be unwell so it is probably best they rest and recover at home for a few days. Please let the school office know if your child does have Slapped Cheek.
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