This page will be reviewed and updated regularly as new information about swine flu becomes available. We also send out information in regular e-bulletins. If you would like to get the email bulletin fill in the online subscription form.
The Department for Education (DfE) has published new guidance on the TeacherNet website. All schools and early years and childcare settings in England are expected to reopen as planned at the beginning of the new term. However, it is still important that adults or children with flu-like symptoms should stay at home.
We have designed a flow chart and written a set of frequently asked questions to help you decide what to do in certain circumstances. There is also a page of frequently asked questions on the TeacherNet website.
Choose a link below and you will move to the answer on this page.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu. This includes fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
How long are the symptoms expected to last?
As with any sort of flu, how long the symptoms last and how bad they are will vary depending on treatment and individual circumstances. Most cases reported in the UK so far have been relatively mild, with those affected starting to recover within a week.
How long does the virus live on surfaces?
The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours, and on soft surfaces for around 20 minutes.
What is the incubation period?
According to the Health Protection Agency, the incubation period for swine flu (time between infection and appearance of symptoms) can be up to seven days, but is most likely to be between two and five days. However, it is too early to be certain about virus characteristics, including incubation period.
When are people most infectious?
People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms, although they continue to shed the virus (for example, in coughs and sneezes) for up to five days (seven days in children). People become less infectious as their symptoms clear up, and once their symptoms are gone, they are no longer considered infectious.
What are the 'at risk' categories?
People 'at risk' are those who have one of more of the following:
Who is going to be vaccinated?
You can find information about the swine flu vaccination programme on our news pages.
What should I do if I have staff or children who have come into contact with, or have a family member with, swine flu?
As long as the member of staff or child remains well they can carry on their normal lives without any restrictions. They will not normally be offered antiviral treatment unless they are in an 'at-risk' group (see list above).
In this instance you don't really have any grounds to exclude a child and staff should be encouraged to work as long as they are well. You may want to remind staff, children and parents of the recommended infection control measures (catch it, kill it, bin it) and the need to wash their hands more often.
A child at my setting has a suspected case of swine flu, what should I do?
Children who have flu-like symptoms must be kept at home. These children may have swine flu and, if they have symptoms, they are likely to be infectious. Sending them to nursery would risk them infecting others. Ideally their contact with others should be kept to a minimum until seven days after their symptoms started.
If a child has symptoms of swine flu, the Health Protection Agency recommends that parents phone their GP for advice. They may be offered anti-viral medication (Tamiflu), as children under five are considered to be at a slightly higher risk of getting complications from swine flu (such as pneumonia)
Very close contacts of the child concerned who remain well can carry on their normal lives without any restrictions. They will not normally be offered antiviral treatment unless they are in an 'at-risk' group.
You may want to consider amending the DCSF model letter 1 and sending it to all parents and staff. You do not need to close your setting unless you do not have enough staff to maintain your ratios or you have been told to close by a healthcare professional.
A child at my setting has a confirmed case of swine flu, what should I do?
Children who have swine flu must be kept at home until at least seven days after their symptoms started. Sending them to nursery would risk them infecting others.
Very close contacts of the child concerned who remain well can carry on their normal lives without any restrictions. They will not normally be offered antiviral treatment unless they are in an 'at-risk' group.
Staff who have had close contact with a child with swine flu and who are pregnant or in another 'at risk' group should visit NHS Direct or contact their GP for advice.
You should amend the DCSF model letter 1 and send it to all parents and staff. You may want to consider contacting parents of children who have been identified as being particularly at risk to suggest they seek advice from their GP. You do not need to close your setting unless you do not have enough staff to maintain your ratios or you have been told to close by a healthcare professional.
Myself, a member of staff or a child is particularly vulnerable and there is confirmed swine flu in a nearby setting or school, what should I do?
You should make sure that you, your staff and the children in your care follow the infection control advice (catch it, kill it, bin it) to reduce the risk of spreading the infection:
Do I need to inform Ofsted of any or all suspected or confirmed cases of swine flu in my setting?
Swine flu is not a notifiable disease and there is no need for you to notify RIDDOR or Ofsted. Swine flu is being monitored in other ways.
A number of staff are off sick, do I have to maintain my ratios?
Yes, your staff to child ratios must be maintained at all times. If you are unable to maintain your ratios, you may need to temporarily reduce the number of children attending your setting or close.
How should I prioritise a reduced number of places?
You may have thought about how to prioritise places when you prepared your emergency plan. If not you should carefully consider which children you may want to offer places to. Some settings have prioritised places for children:
I have to close as a result of swine flu (staff shortages or on medical advice). What should I do?
Make sure you tell:
Will you carry on paying Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE) funding even if children have been absent or I have to close?
We will not reclaim the funding when children have been absent due to swine flu or if you have to close due to medical advice or because you cannot maintain your ratios. We will not ask you to make the days up later either. The only time funding will be withdrawn or reclaimed is if you remain open against medical advice as you would be deemed to be putting children at risk.
What will happen if things get worse and the normal claim process for EYFE doesn't work?
If the situation deteriorates and we are unable to carry on with the usual claim process, we will continue to pay you the same amount that you received for the previous term. We would continue to pay you at this rate until the situation improved and things returned to normal.
What should we do about sports day?
Whole nursery events, such as sports days and charity events should continue as usual unless there is widespread illness and absence within the nursery. When inviting parents and guests to these events please remind them that anybody feeling unwell should not come.
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| Swine flu flow chart | A flow chart for childcare providers to help them decide what to do about swine flu. |
| Model letter 1 | Letter to be sent to parents when you have cases of swine flu in your setting and the setting is staying open |
| Model letter 2 | Letter to be sent to parents when you have cases of swine flu in your setting and you are going to close for health reasons |
| Model letter 3 | Letter to be sent to parents when you have cases of swine flu in your setting and you are going to close for reasons other than health |
