• We do not currently envisage any situation where the Government would be advising large numbers of schools or Early Years and childcare settings to close.
  • Parents should keep children at home if they have flu symptoms.  Schools and settings spotting such symptoms should ask parents to collect the child and take them home as soon as practicable.
  • We would expect schools and settings to stay open even if some pupils are diagnosed with flu. Schools may wish to contact their local Health Protection Unit for advice if they are concerned by a large number of cases, or if their pupils may be particularly vulnerable – for example, special schools dealing with children with medical conditions. In some cases, the advice may be to close for a short period.
  • Early Years and childcare settings may also wish to contact their local Health Protection Unit for advice if they have concerns.
  • The greatest contribution that a school or setting can make is to promote and put in place good hygiene practices: basic commonsense ideas like using tissues and washing hands.  Such practices can help to prevent the spread of a range of viruses, not just flu.
  • Those in vulnerable groups – people with certain medical conditions or pregnant women – should contact their GP for flu vaccination.