The Health Protection Hub provides advice and support to educational and childcare settings on a range of health protection issues, particularly those relating to infectious diseases.

Infections are common and, for most people, the risk of serious illness is low. They can be picked up in the community and brought into a setting, or spread within a setting after someone becomes infected.

Infections are caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, commonly known as germs. Germs are found everywhere and most are harmless, with some even playing an important role in maintaining good health. However, certain germs can cause illness if they enter the body or spread to places where they do not normally belong.

Some people are more vulnerable to infection or may experience more severe illness if they become infected. This can include young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems.

Infections can spread in several ways, including through the air, direct contact with an infected person, or contact with contaminated surfaces, equipment, food, or water.

Access free E-Bug resources from the UK Health Security Agency to help children and young people aged 3 to 16 learn about infection prevention and good hygiene

General advice on preventing and controlling infections

Infection prevention and control measures can be grouped into five key areas:

  • exclusion

  • hand hygiene

  • respiratory hygiene

  • ventilation and

  • cleaning.

Exclusions

For some infections, children, staff, and sometimes close contacts need to stay away from school for a specified period to help prevent the spread of illness. Although time away from education is not ideal, these exclusion periods are designed to protect others and reduce the risk of larger outbreaks.

Hand hygiene 

Good hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection. Ensure that liquid soap, warm water, and paper towels are readily available for everyone to use. Bar soap should not be used.

Alcohol-based hand sanitiser can be used when hands are not visibly dirty. However, it is not effective against some infections, including norovirus, a common cause of gastroenteritis, and Cryptosporidium, which can be associated with animal contact.

Hands should be washed thoroughly after using the toilet, before eating or handling food, after outdoor play, and after contact with animals.

Any cuts, grazes, or broken skin should be covered with a clean, waterproof dressing.

Respiratory and cough hygiene

Help prevent the spread of infection by covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away straight away and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow. Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and always wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or touching contaminated items or surfaces.

Ventilation 

Fresh air is an important part of preventing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Opening windows and doors regularly, even for a few minutes at a time, helps remove stale air and reduce the build-up of viruses indoors.

During colder months, opening windows more widely between lessons or when rooms are unoccupied can help improve ventilation while limiting heat loss.

Cleaning

Keeping your setting clean helps reduce the spread of infection. Pay particular attention to surfaces that are touched frequently, such as door handles, taps, toilet flushes, light switches, and shared equipment.

During an outbreak of illness, more frequent cleaning may be needed to help prevent infections from spreading.

Your setting should have a cleaning schedule that explains what needs to be cleaned, how often it should be cleaned, and who is responsible for carrying out the cleaning. It should also include plans for extra cleaning if it is needed during an outbreak.

Anyone responsible for cleaning should be properly trained and provided with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and aprons where appropriate.

Immunisations

Vaccinations help protect against serious infectious diseases and reduce the risk of outbreaks. High vaccination rates can also help protect people who are unable to be vaccinated through community, or "herd", immunity.

Delivering vaccinations in schools makes it easier for children and young people to access them and helps ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to be protected.

Education and childcare settings have an important role in supporting vaccination programmes by sharing information with parents and carers and working with the School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS).

Settings can support the vaccination process by:

  • providing space and time in the timetable for vaccination

  • reminding staff, children, and young people about the date of the immunisation session(s)

  • sharing information leaflets and consent forms with parents or carers

  • providing a list of eligible children and young people and their parent or carer’s contact details to the SAIS team.

Universities and colleges should help students understand the importance of vaccinations, including measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and meningococcal A, C, W, and Y (MenACWY) vaccines.

Information on the symptoms of meningococcal disease, GP registration, and local healthcare services should also be provided to help students stay healthy while studying.

Infectious diseases resources

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