Managing Norovirus and other winter bugs in schools

Last week it was all about slips, trips and falls, and this week we're onto Norovirus. It's not just accidents we're worrying about; it's seasonal illnesses too. 

If you remember, earlier in 2025, we were seeing a lot of chatter about Norovirus and its untimely resurgence. Well, we're entering its peak season. Often referred to as "the winter vomiting bug", it can move through a school faster than your Year 8 can say "I don't feel well". 

But there are one or two ways we can counteract the outbreaks. Let's go 🚀

1. Know the early warning signs 🪧

We know that Norovirus can come on quickly and suddenly. Typical symptoms include:

‼️ Vomiting

‼️ Diarrhoea 

‼️ Stomach cramps

These symptoms can typically last one to three days, but as ever, this can vary. The best advice we can offer is to be direct.

Any child or staff member with these symptoms needs to stay away from school for at least 48 hours. 

2. Prioritise hygiene hotspots 😷

Classrooms, toilets and the school lunch hall are going to be your final bosses. Regular cleaning with disinfectants that are proven to kill norovirus. Remember the issue of the First-Aid Room, where we talked about incentivising students to be helpers with this. 

For your older students, school council members, or Head of Years, consider entrusting them with cloths and spray bottles to do the job for your team and help out. Focus on:

📍 Door handles and door push plates

📍 Tables and chairs

📍 Toilet flushers, taps and sinks

3. Handwashing beats hand gel! 👋

Don't get me wrong, hand sanitiser is handy (awful joke, not sorry!); we remember the empty shelves during the COVID pandemic. Nonetheless, it's soap and water that truly sees off Norovirus particles.

We appreciate that this isn't new news, but knowing that hand washing is better than hand gels, specifically for Norovirus, could be useful information. 

4. Keep communication clear and calm 😌

If Norovirus starts spreading, parents, students, and your colleagues may become a little panicked. We're a little more vigilant these days, and the best way to deal with an outbreak is to limit misinformation and keep everyone in the know. 

The next pro-tip is probably worth creating for a host of seasonal illnesses, so you're pre-prepared. 

Some of the best tips we've seen in our community are temporary absences. Reassure parents that these can help protect their child as well as the other students and staff.

If possible, avoid naming affected pupils, staff, or even classes. Finger-pointing and singling can create panic. Focus on facts and prevention. 

5. Review incidents 📈

We're back again with our favourite mantra, but it really is the linchpin - especially with seasonal illnesses. If you have a system that can spot illnesses, now is the time to start making it work for its money! 

Fancy a resource? 📚

A Norovirus desktop wallpaper - this could be a game-changer. Add this to your school's TV rotation, set it as a standard desktop in your IT rooms, and encourage your teachers to display it on Smartboards as students enter the classroom. 

It's a really low-hanging fruit that encourages conversation, grabs attention and does the awareness spreading job for you.

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