Top tips to ensure your child’s health at school
Ensuring your child’s health at school in 2025 requires a comprehensive approach combining prevention, hygiene, and vigilance. Faced with the resurgence of preventable childhood illnesses, ensuring vaccinations are up-to-date, encouraging good hygiene practices, and recognizing the signs of illness requiring rest at home are essential pillars for children to stay healthy and succeed in their school year in the Châteaubriant region and throughout the Pays de la Mée.
While the start of the school year marks a period of renewed social interaction among students, infections such as colds, the flu, and whooping cough spread rapidly. To sustainably protect the health of young people in Loire-Atlantique, and more specifically in the schools of the CC Châteaubriant-Derval inter-municipal community, families must adopt simple yet effective measures. The advice presented here is based on the latest public health recommendations and places prevention within a local context, so that every child benefits from the best possible conditions for a peaceful learning environment. Ensuring Immune Protection: The Crucial Importance of School Vaccinations
One of the first lines of defense against diseases that frequently affect children in schools is the rigorous updating of their health records. The resurgence of certain epidemics in 2025, such as measles and pertussis (whooping cough), serves as a stark reminder of the vital importance of vaccination. According to recent government data, pertussis outbreaks significantly impacted English schools in 2024, a cautionary tale for France.
For parents living in Châteaubriant and the surrounding area, it is essential to use local resources, such as the medical checkups offered by school health services, to verify and complete recommended vaccinations. The child’s health record – often called the “Red Book” – should be consulted regularly to identify any missing vaccinations. If in doubt, a consultation with your pediatrician, or contact with the Maternal and Child Health (PMI) service of the Châteaubriant-Derval Community of Communes, will facilitate the rapid completion of vaccinations.
- Role of the National Immunization Program Mandatory Vaccines
- : Diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis (whooping cough), and measles are essential for a robust immune system. Recommended Vaccines
- : The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, available to students in 8th grade (4ème), prevents certain cancers linked to viral infections. Catch-up Vaccinations
: It is never too late to catch up on a missed vaccination; this service is offered by local health centers. These mass vaccinations help protect not only every child, but also the most vulnerable who cannot receive certain vaccines, such as infants or immunocompromised children. Maintaining a good vaccination rate is therefore an act of civic responsibility, a gesture of solidarity that prevents the spread of infectious diseases. The Ministry of National Education details the importance of these measures in a healthy school environment.
| Disease | Required or recommended vaccine | Recommended age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of the disease | Measles | MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) | 12 months & 16-18 months |
| Serious complications: pneumonia, encephalitis | Pertussis (Whooping Cough) | Acellular vaccine | 2 months to 6 years, booster 11-13 years |
| Persistent cough, hospitalizations | HPV | HPV vaccine | Between 11 and 14 years |
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Discover our best tips to ensure your child’s health and well-being at school: disease prevention, hygiene, nutrition, and practical advice for a smooth school year.
Essential hygiene practices to protect every student’s health
- Beyond vaccination, hygiene plays a vital role in disease prevention. A child who is mindful of their actions helps prevent the transmission of viruses and bacteria in classrooms, which are often crowded. For families in the Pays de la Mée and Loire-Atlantique regions, integrating these good habits at home and at school is key: Simple actions to adopt from a young age
- Frequent handwashing: for at least 20 seconds with soap, paying particular attention to between the fingers and under the nails. Use of disposable tissues: for coughs or sneezes, followed by immediate handwashing.
- Avoid touching your face: the eyes, nose, and mouth are prime entry points for germs. Regularly ventilate classrooms: ventilation limits the spread of viral and disposable particles. Daily clean frequently touched surfaces: door handles, desks, light switches.
- Schools in the Châteaubriant-Derval Community of Communes have adopted rigorous cleaning and awareness protocols thanks to advice from Laboratoires Gilbert and Pierre Fabre, specialists in hygiene products suitable for children. The official website of the French government reminds everyone of the essential rules for limiting infections in schools.
- Hygiene Measure Health Impact
Ease of Implementation Washing hands with soap
| Reduces gastrointestinal infections by 31% | Very easy | Ventilation of classrooms |
|---|---|---|
| Reduces the risk of flu transmission | Moderately easy | Disposable tissues |
| Limits the spread of viruses | Easy | In addition to recommended brands, such as Mustela for sensitive skin care or Milton for disinfecting bottles and accessories, families can find simple tips for implementing these practices daily, detailed in this practical guide. |
| Knowing when your child needs to stay home: | Regular school attendance is essential for academic success, but health remains the priority. Learning to recognize when a child is too sick to go to school prevents complications and the spread of illness in classrooms in Loire-Atlantique. |
Warning signs for keeping your child home: High fever:
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A temperature of 38°C or higher requires rest at home.
Severe symptoms:
- Vomiting, diarrhea, intense fatigue, difficulty breathing.
- Contagious illnesses:
- Chickenpox, measles, whooping cough, gastroenteritis.
Medical consultation:
| Essential if you have any doubts about whether school is necessary. Parents can consult the detailed recommendations available on the French school health website, as well as contact local services in Châteaubriant for personalized advice. Following isolation guidelines protects not only the sick child, but also their classmates and the entire teaching staff. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Symptom | Isolation Recommendation | Typical Duration |
| Fever above 38°C (100.4°F) | Stay home | Until the fever subsides without medication |
| Vomiting or diarrhea | Isolation recommended | 48 hours after symptoms have stopped |
Chickenpox Stay at homeApproximately two weeks, or until completely healed
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Following these rules ensures a faster and safer return to school and also helps avoid disruptions to learning. Further advice is available at
cc-castelbriantais.fr
where specialists regularly share recommendations tailored to the local context.
- The region’s schools are committed to a healthy and safe environment.
- Schools in the Pays de la Mée region, particularly in the Châteaubriant-Derval Community of Communes, have strengthened their health protocols to limit the risk of winter epidemics. Among the initiatives implemented in 2025, flu vaccination in schools is being rolled out to all students from preschool to high school. Vaccination and active prevention programs in schools
- Annual flu vaccination: distributed on-site with the consent of families, it significantly reduces absences due to the flu. HPV and MenACWY vaccines: administered to middle school students to prevent serious illnesses, with follow-up provided by the school nurse.
Health education sessions: held regularly to raise awareness among students and parents about good hygiene and nutrition practices. Local partners, such as Bledina for infant nutrition and Dodie for hygiene products, collaborate with schools to offer comprehensive children’s health care. In parallel, Uriage Laboratories and Pédi Relax provide solutions to soothe minor skin problems or sleep disturbances that could hinder concentration in class.
| Measure | Target Audience | Objective | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partners | Flu Vaccination | All students (preschool to high school) | Reduce flu cases |
| Schools, town hall, local health services | Health Education | Parents and students | Promote hygiene and healthy eating |
| Gilbert Laboratories, Pierre Fabre | Medical Follow-up | At-Risk Children | Prevent complications |
School nurses To learn more about innovative approaches to school health in the region, parents and teachers can consult this comprehensive guide
Discover our best tips to ensure your child’s health and well-being at school: prevention, hygiene, balanced nutrition, and practical advice for a stress-free school year.
Balanced nutrition and hydration: essential levers for school health
- A well-nourished and properly hydrated child has better concentration, greater resilience to stress, and a stronger immune system. In 2025, the CC Châteaubriant-Derval inter-municipal council encourages families to prioritize healthy meals for students and to monitor their hydration throughout the school day. Specific nutritional recommendations
- Complete breakfast: -rich cereals, milk or fortified alternatives (such as Gallia or Luc et Léa), fresh fruit.
- Varied and balanced meals:
- – vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, limiting processed foods that are too fatty or sugary. Healthy snacks:
Nuts, fruit compotes (Bledina brand), dried fruit, avoiding chocolate bars and sodas. Drink regularly:
| At least 1 liter of water per day to stay well hydrated and avoid cognitive fatigue. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Local initiatives promote nutritional education, in collaboration with recognized brands and pediatric experts, as evidenced by articles on | culturefemme.com | |
| . A healthy diet combined with a balanced lifestyle boosts well-being and academic success. | Time of day | Recommended composition |
| Benefits for the child | Breakfast | Gallia dairy products, whole grains, fresh fruit |
Promotes concentration and energy Lunch
Protein, organic vegetables, whole grains
Maintains satiety and good nutritional intake
Snack
Bledina fruit compotes, dried fruit, nuts
Provides vitamins and prevents cravings
To learn more about nutritional advice tailored to children and to support their mental and physical health, families in the area can consult the specialized local platform.
How do I know if my child is too sick to go to school?
If your child has a fever above 38°C (100.4°F), is vomiting, has diarrhea, or suffers from a contagious illness such as chickenpox, they must stay home. If in doubt, consulting a doctor is the best option.
Which vaccines are essential before the start of the school year?
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