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Your toddler wakes up with a runny nose. You have a full day of work ahead, and your child seems cheerful enough to play. Should you send them to nursery or keep them at home?
Knowing when to keep your child home from nursery is a common challenge for working parents. Some symptoms are mild, while others may signal an illness that needs rest, medical attention or time away from other children.
In Abu Dhabi, parents should consider their child’s symptoms, ability to participate comfortably in the nursery day and the setting’s health policy. These decisions help protect the wellbeing of the sick child and the wider nursery community.
At Spring Fields Preschools, we recognise the importance of communication between families and early education settings when a child is unwell.
Young children spend time close to one another, share learning materials and need frequent adult assistance with everyday routines. Some infections can spread easily in these environments.
Keeping an unwell child at home when necessary can help:
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has an Infection Prevention and Control Policy for early education institutions. It requires nurseries to establish procedures for managing illness, identifying symptoms that require temporary absence and communicating with families.
You can read the official ADEK Infection Prevention and Control Policy.
There is no single rule that applies to every illness. However, certain symptoms deserve particular attention.
If your child has a fever or feels unusually hot and unwell, keep them home and assess their condition.
Look at the full picture, including their energy levels, comfort, appetite and other symptoms. A child who is unusually sleepy, distressed or unable to participate normally may need medical assessment.
Follow your nursery’s illness policy and seek advice from a healthcare professional when appropriate.
Repeated vomiting or frequent loose stools can be signs of an illness and may increase the risk of infection spreading.
Keep your child at home, encourage appropriate fluids and monitor their condition. Contact a healthcare professional if symptoms are persistent or you are concerned about dehydration.
The nursery’s return requirements may depend on the suspected illness and applicable health guidance. Ask the nursery when your child can safely return rather than assuming that feeling better immediately means attendance is appropriate.
A new or unexplained rash should not be ignored, particularly if it appears alongside fever, mouth sores or other symptoms.
ADEK’s infection prevention policy identifies an unidentified rash as a reason for temporary absence and states that a child should be medically cleared before returning.
Keep your child home and contact a healthcare professional for advice. Seek urgent medical care if the rash is accompanied by severe symptoms or your child appears seriously unwell.
Redness, eye pain, swelling or white or yellow discharge may require medical assessment.
ADEK’s policy advises that children with these symptoms stay home and are checked by a physician. Do not assume that every red eye is infectious, but do seek appropriate advice before returning your child to nursery.
A cough, runny nose or sore throat does not always mean a child has a serious illness. However, these symptoms can occur with contagious infections.
Consider whether your child has additional symptoms, seems unusually tired or is struggling to take part in normal activities.
ADEK’s infection prevention policy identifies flu-like symptoms, including coughing, a runny nose, sore throat, headache and body aches, among the symptoms that may require temporary absence.
If your child appears unwell, keep them home and contact your nursery for guidance. Seek medical advice if symptoms worsen, persist or cause concern.
If a healthcare professional diagnoses an infectious illness, inform the nursery promptly and follow the advice given about isolation, treatment and return to childcare.
Different illnesses have different exclusion and return requirements. Some require a specific period away from nursery or medical clearance.
Do not rely on a general online checklist to determine when your child can return after a confirmed infection. Follow the applicable health guidance and your nursery’s policy.
This is one of the most common questions parents face.
A runny nose can occur with a mild cold, allergies or other conditions. The symptom alone may not tell you what is causing it.
Before deciding whether your child should attend, consider:
Because young children need close supervision and may find it difficult to manage respiratory hygiene independently, nurseries may take a cautious approach when symptoms suggest an infection.
If you are unsure, contact the nursery before leaving home. Explain the symptoms clearly and follow its guidance.
A child may look better before they are ready to return to their normal routine. The appropriate return time depends on the illness, symptoms, medical advice and nursery policy.
Before sending your child back, consider the following checklist.
Some illnesses have specific exclusion periods. For example, vomiting and diarrhoea may require a period without symptoms before a child can return. The required period can vary according to the condition and relevant health guidance.
Important: Do not use this checklist as medical clearance. Confirm the exact return requirements with your nursery and healthcare professional.
When both parents work, an unexpected illness can disrupt meetings, deadlines and childcare arrangements. A simple plan can make these situations easier to manage.
Agree in advance who can help if your child becomes unwell during the day. This could be a parent, trusted family member or another authorised caregiver.
Understand your organisation’s leave policies and whether flexible working arrangements are possible when your child needs care.
Save your paediatrician’s contact details, your nursery’s phone number and any relevant medical information in an accessible place.
If your child is unwell, tell the nursery as soon as possible. If your child becomes sick during the day, respond promptly to calls and follow the instructions provided.
It is understandable to worry about missed work. However, sending an unwell child into a group setting can affect their recovery and expose others to infection.
Planning ahead cannot prevent every disruption, but it can reduce the pressure of making decisions at the last minute.
Clear communication helps the nursery respond appropriately and monitor the child’s wellbeing.
When reporting an absence, share relevant details such as:
If your child develops symptoms during the nursery day, educators may need to contact you, arrange appropriate care and explain the next steps.
Keep the nursery updated if a diagnosis is confirmed, particularly when the illness may affect other children.
Health, safety and wellbeing are important considerations when choosing an early education setting. Parents should understand how a nursery manages illness, communicates concerns and supports children who become unwell.
At Spring Fields Preschools in Abu Dhabi, families can contact the team to discuss nursery procedures, attendance requirements and questions about their child’s care.
Parents exploring early education options can also review our classes and programmes to learn more about the learning environment.
For questions about attendance or nursery procedures, please contact Spring Fields Preschools directly.
Deciding whether your child is well enough for nursery is not always straightforward. A mild symptom may be manageable in one situation, while a combination of symptoms may require rest, medical advice or temporary absence.
Pay attention to how your child feels, understand your nursery’s illness policy and seek professional advice when you are concerned. Keeping the nursery informed also helps protect the wider early learning community.
For working parents in Abu Dhabi, a clear plan for sick days can make difficult mornings easier to manage while keeping children’s wellbeing at the centre of the decision.
Keep your child home when they have symptoms that may indicate an infectious illness, feel too unwell to participate comfortably or meet the exclusion criteria in the nursery’s illness policy. Fever, repeated vomiting, diarrhoea, unexplained rashes and certain eye symptoms warrant particular attention.
It depends on the child’s overall condition, accompanying symptoms and the nursery’s policy. A runny nose alone does not establish the cause of an illness. Contact your nursery if you are unsure whether your child should attend.
If the cough is persistent, worsening or accompanied by fever, breathing difficulties or other signs of illness, keep your child home and seek appropriate advice. Follow the nursery’s infection prevention policy and consult a healthcare professional when necessary.
The required period depends on the illness and applicable health guidance. Check the nursery’s policy and ask when your child can safely return. Seek medical advice if symptoms persist or you are concerned about dehydration.
Stay reachable and respond promptly when the nursery contacts you. Follow its instructions for collecting your child, seeking medical advice and reporting any confirmed infectious illness.
ADEK publishes an official Infection Prevention and Control Policy for early education institutions. Parents should also request their nursery’s current illness, exclusion and return-to-attendance procedures.
