As winter illnesses continue to circulate at high levels and pupils are returning to education, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a reminder on how to minimise the spread of illness in education and childcare settings.
UKHSA advice remains clear that children can continue to attend as normal unless they are unwell and have a high temperature. Further information on when a child is too ill for school or nursery is available.
There is no requirement to be absent from school on a precautionary basis. School staff should continue to maintain their high expectations for face-to-face attendance.
For further information, please also see our Education Hub post on the latest guidelines around COVID-19 and for Strep A, our separate post on the exact circumstances in which children should be kept off school.
UKHSA is providing regular updates on Strep A. Both UKHSA and DfE are continuing to closely monitor the situation.
See update from the Department for Education: Following the publication of the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Training Provider Guidance in April 2025, the Department for Education is pleased to announce the publication of the EYTDA Employer Guidance. Developed in collaboration with a sector-led Implementation group, this guidance aims to support employers in the early… Continue reading EY: Publication of Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (EYTDA) Employer Guidance: DfE
See the JCT newsletter for May which includes some suggestions for early years settings. The theme of the newsletter is vocabulary development. See JCT Newsletter May 2025
