Dear Parents and Carers,

I wanted to inform you that there has been a confirmed case of chickenpox in Class 1; therefore I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the procedure for when to keep your child at home and when it is appropriate to send them back to school, should they develop the symptoms of chickenpox.

Chicken pox is a mild and common childhood illness caused by a virus called varicella zoster. It is most common in children under the age of 10 and is contagious. The incubation period is approximately 21 days and the person is contagious from 1 to 2 days before the spots appear until the spots have crusted over (usually 5 days after the spots appear).

If your child has chickenpox they will need to stay away from school until all the spots have crusted over. This is usually 5 days after the spots first appeared.

We appreciate your understanding with regards to this; if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Additional information and guidance can be found at www.nhs.uk/conditions/chickenpox/

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Andrew Buttery