The East Region Health Protection Service (ERHPS) supports schools, nurseries, out-of-school care providers, childminders, and private childcare businesses across the region. Our role is to help keep children, young people, and staff safe and well by providing advice on everyday infection prevention and how to respond if you suspect an outbreak.
(Local procedures may vary, always follow your own organisation’s protocols as well as our advice.)
Quick checklist
- Promote good hygiene – regular handwashing, respiratory hygiene (“catch it, bin it, kill it”), safe cleaning and waste disposal.
- Know exclusion periods – check the Managing specific infectious diseases: A to Z (opens in new tab) for how long people should stay away with common infections.
- Monitor attendance – keep absence records and look for unusual patterns that could suggest an outbreak.
- Support vaccination programmes – work with local immunisation teams and encourage uptake among children, young people and staff.
- Respond to outbreaks – if you suspect an outbreak, follow your organisation’s procedures and contact your us promptly for advice.
- Special considerations – be aware of tailored advice for children with additional support needs, outdoor learning, or planned trips.
- Use visual reminders – display posters and resources on handwashing, “Should my child stay home?”, and outbreak awareness to support staff and families.
When to contact the ERHPS
Please get in touch if you notice:
- Two or more children, young people, or staff with the same infection in your setting (a possible cluster or outbreak).
- Unusually high levels of absence due to illness.
- Concern about a specific infectious disease (for example measles, whooping cough, or E. coli).
- Questions about infection control or exclusion guidance that are not answered by the Managing specific infectious diseases: A to Z (opens in new tab) Table or your local procedures.
Contact us
Your first step should be to follow your own organisation’s procedures – for example, local authority guidance if you are a council school, or internal protocols if you are a private nursery or childcare business.
If you need to speak to us directly:
Email: eos.eastregionhpt@nhs.scot
Phone: 0300 790 6264 (Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm)
Out of Hours (professionals only): 01592 643355 (Weekdays after 6pm and weekends)
Advice for further education settings
Students in colleges and universities can access health information through NHS Inform Student Health page (opens in new tab), which covers:
- Registering with a GP
- Accessing mental health support
- Sexual health services
Resources and downloads
- Public Health Scotland Health protection in children and young people settings, including education (opens in new tab) – guidance
- NHS Inform (opens in new tab) for information on common childhood illnesses
- Public Health Scotland posters for display in settings (opens in new tab). Including:
- Get up to date with the latest guidance on health protection
- How long should your child be off school?
- How to handwash
- Putting on and taking off personal protective equipment
Page last reviewed: 10 July 2026