Dr Chris Gardner is a Consultant Paediatrician and Deputy Medical Director at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, he also a school governor and most importantly a dad of 3 kids. Here he tells us why it’s important that kids get back to school this September, and shares some expert advice.

Back to school time is here, and many of us as parents will be relieved for ‘home school’ to come to an end, but this year will be different for all of us and we must be prepared for a school year with Covid-19 still in our communities. This is therefore a worrying time for lots of parents.

But being at school is the best place for children to be. The benefits for children and young people go beyond just their education; schools are also there to develop life skills, build social relationships and promote health and wellbeing, and we know that many children have struggled in recent months without the routine and daily contact with friends and teachers.

With the virus still in circulation, it is understandable that some of us as parents and carers will be reluctant to send their kids back to school, however children are the group least affected by COVID-19, and as long as you follow the guidance of your Local Authority and Public Health agencies, you can be assured that your children will be well cared for. As a school governor and a parent whose children have attended school throughout the lockdown I have seen the thoroughness of the measures which schools, following expert advice, have developed and I’m sure that by now many of them will have shared their plans with you.

Kids inevitably pick up common illnesses all the time, but especially in the autumn and winter terms, when flu, colds and sickness bugs are passing from person to person. Just make sure you have a well-stocked medicine cabinet for yourself and your family, ensure your children take the medicine they need, such as inhalers for Asthma, to school with them and should you need any medical advice, your local community pharmacists are professionals, and will be able to point you in the right direction.

We must always keep in mind though, the symptoms of Covid-19. If you or your child develops a persistent cough, a high temperature or loss of taste and smell, please get a test. The easiest way to book on is https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/ or to call 119. If your child or anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 then they should not attend school, but should arrange to get tested. If at any time you are worried that your child seems very unwell then do ensure that they get medical help – call 111 for advice in this situation.

Where your child is entitled to a flu vaccination, which is currently all school children up to Year 7, please consider taking this up. The levels of flu vaccine take up in children will have a huge effect on how our NHS services cope during our first winter with Covid-19 and this is a very effective way for you to protect not only the kids but also vulnerable relatives from the effects of Flu. For most people this will be arranged to be given at school.

We as parents and carers can do our bit too; by ensuring that our children are aware of social distancing and regular hand washing, which remain two of the best ways to reduce the spread of the virus. It’s also important to talk to children about the changes to schools when they return and to listen to their worries and reassure them.

The government has produced some guidance for parents and carers, with kids going back to school: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

And there are so many resources to help you to support your child’s mental health, at https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters