'Coughs are a natural part of winter and no reason to stay at home': Fury at deputy headteacher's letter to parents claiming 'the more germs children are exposed to the better'

  • Deputy headteacher sent a letter to parents of an Essex primary school 
  • She said coughs and colds are 'no reason' for children to stay at home
  • Advice was criticised by doctors who warned of potential dangers

By Stephanie Linning for MailOnline

Published: 06:55 EST, 2 December 2016 | Updated: 06:58 EST, 2 December 2016

A deputy headmistress has come under fire after she told parents coughs and colds are not a good enough reason to keep their children home from school. 

Doctors criticised Karina Garrick after she sent a letter to parents at William Read Primary School in Canvey, Essex, saying the illnesses are 'a natural part of winter'.

She added: 'The more germs children are exposed to the better their immune system becomes as they get older.'

Local GP Dr Marimuthu Velmurugan warned of the potentially dangerous consequences of leaving such minor illnesses untreated. 

Doctors criticised Karina Garrick after she sent a letter to parents at William Read Primary School in Canvey, Essex, pictured, saying the illnesses are 'a natural part of winter'

He said: 'I've seen it with my own eyes, when a child who contracts a cough or cold isn't taken to a doctor. I've seen children end up in hospital.

'William Read is a good school. But I don't think schools who haven't got a nurse on site should ask children to go in if they have a cough or cold.

'Only a qualified nurse can make that judgement call. Parents must use their instinct, and common sense will prevail.'

Another local doctor, who did not want to be named, said health complications can sometimes arise when a child catches the common cold virus. 

He added: 'I understand it makes sense to encourage children to go to school. But from a healthcare perspective it is potentially dangerous.

'If a child's immune system is low they will be more likely to catch the virus and pass it on, so it spreads. Many children have other health complications, so being surrounded by people with viruses could cause problems.'

NHS guidelines state: 'A child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by a raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, the child should stay off school.'

Ms Garrick has since defended the letter, saying she is not aware of any pupils with underlying medical conditions.  

She added: 'Coughs and colds are not a reason to not come to school. We go to work, so children should come to school. 

'If a child has just a sniffle, then they will be okay to come in. 

'We have safety measures, and a duty of care towards the children, and we ask parents to take a common sense approach.'

Canvey West councillor Ray Howard said he supported the advice. 

He said: 'I'm a supporter of healthcare professionals, but on this occasion I have to disagree with them and support the school.

'The staff have a hard job to do, and if they don't hit their attendance rate they're criticised. If a child has the occasional cold or cough, they should be sent to school, it doesn't do an awful lot of harm.'


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