Conjunctivitis and School: Do They Need to Stay Home?

My School Agent | 8 July 2026

My son woke up with one eye glued shut. The white was pink. There was crusty gunk in the corner. He looked like a tiny pirate who'd had a heavy night.

I texted the class WhatsApp group: "Looks like conjunctivitis, keeping him home."

Three other parents replied: "Oh no, we had that last month, it's so contagious, hope he feels better soon."

Then I checked the NHS website. Children with conjunctivitis do not need to stay off school.

I'd kept him home for nothing.

The NHS Rule: No Exclusion Needed

According to NHS guidance, children with conjunctivitis do not need to be excluded from school or nursery.

Not "can return after 24 hours." Not "once the eye is no longer red." No exclusion needed at all.

This surprises most parents. Conjunctivitis looks dramatic. It's called "pink eye" for a reason. Surely something that contagious-looking should be kept away from other children?

No. The NHS is clear. If your child feels well and can take part in lessons, they can attend school with conjunctivitis.

Why Schools (and Parents) Think Otherwise

Conjunctivitis is contagious. It spreads through direct contact with infected eye discharge, or by touching contaminated surfaces.

So logically, keeping infected children at home should stop it spreading. Right?

In practice, conjunctivitis spreads before you know your child has it. The infection is most contagious in the first day or two, often before the eye is visibly pink. By the time the gunk appears, the damage is done. Half the class has already touched the same Lego.

Excluding children after symptoms appear doesn't meaningfully reduce transmission. It just inconveniences parents.

Some schools have their own illness policies that override NHS guidance. They may still ask you to keep children with conjunctivitis at home for 24-48 hours. Check your school's rules.

But if your school follows NHS guidance, your child can attend with conjunctivitis as long as they feel well.

What Conjunctivitis Actually Is

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva (the thin layer covering the white of the eye and inside of the eyelids). It makes the eye look pink or red. There's often discharge that crusts overnight.

Three main types:

Viral Conjunctivitis

Caused by the same viruses that cause colds. This is the most common type in children. It usually starts in one eye and spreads to the other after a day or two.

Viral conjunctivitis clears up on its own within 1-2 weeks. There's no treatment. You just wait it out.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Caused by bacteria. The discharge is thicker and more yellow or green. The eye may be glued shut in the morning with crusty gunk.

Bacterial conjunctivitis often clears up on its own within 7-10 days. But antibiotic eye drops can speed it up and reduce the risk of spreading it to the other eye.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

Caused by allergens like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander. Both eyes are usually affected. The child may also have other allergy symptoms (sneezing, itchy nose).

Allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious. Antihistamine eye drops can help.

When to See a Pharmacist or GP

Most cases of conjunctivitis don't need medical treatment. But see a pharmacist if:

  • Your child's eyes are stuck shut in the morning with thick discharge
  • You're not sure if it's conjunctivitis or something else
  • You want advice on whether antibiotic drops might help

See a GP if:

  • Your baby is under 28 days old (newborn conjunctivitis needs urgent treatment)
  • Your child has eye pain (not just irritation)
  • Their vision is affected (blurry or reduced)
  • They have light sensitivity
  • The eye is very swollen
  • There's a lot of pus or the eye won't open
  • The conjunctivitis doesn't improve after 2 weeks

Treating Conjunctivitis at Home

For viral or bacterial conjunctivitis:

  • Clean the eyes regularly. Use cotton wool soaked in cooled boiled water. Wipe from the inner corner outwards. Use a fresh piece of cotton wool for each wipe. Don't share flannels or towels.
  • Wash hands frequently. Before and after touching the infected eye. Teach your child not to rub their eyes.
  • Avoid spreading it. Don't share pillows, flannels, or towels. Wash pillowcases and towels regularly.

For allergic conjunctivitis, avoid the allergen if possible. Antihistamine drops from the pharmacist can help.

Don't use contact lenses until the conjunctivitis has completely cleared.

When It's Worth Keeping Them Home Anyway

Even though the NHS says no exclusion needed, there are situations where keeping your child home makes sense:

  • They feel generally unwell (conjunctivitis often comes with a cold)
  • The discharge is so heavy that they can't see properly
  • They're constantly rubbing their eyes and can't focus on lessons
  • Your school has a stricter policy and will send them home anyway

Use your judgement. The "well enough to learn" test applies here too.

The Corrected View

I kept my son home that day because I assumed conjunctivitis meant automatic exclusion. I was wrong.

He was back in school the next day. The eye was still pink. The teacher didn't blink (sorry). A week later it cleared up.

Meanwhile I'd wasted a day of annual leave sterilising his bedroom and Googling "how to stop conjunctivitis spreading" when the NHS had already told me it didn't matter.

I built My School Agent to handle the flood of information parents are expected to keep on top of. NHS guidelines. School policies. Uniform rules. Homework deadlines. Event dates. Most of it is written down somewhere. But finding it at 7am when your child looks like a pirate is the hard part.

Related Articles