Headlice Management Toolkit

Head lice management is a complex issue for schools, and head lice infections can be difficult to manage. The responsibility for detecting and treating head lice rests primarily with the parents but it is important for them to be given practical advice and support.

The Head Lice Management Toolkit has been developed for schools to assist in the management of head lice. The Toolkit supports the development of school based policy on head lice.

It is acknowledged that some schools may already have useful resources and practices for managing head lice. This Toolkit has been developed as a 'guide only' and should be personalised to suit the school's needs.

Components of the Head Lice Management Toolkit include the following material:

• Pro forma consent form to conduct head lice inspections to cover the duration of the student's schooling;
• Pro forma head lice management agreement between schools and parents/guardians/carers;
• Pro forma alert notice for principals to use at their discretion when wishing to alert the school community about head lice infection ;
• Pro forma action taken form for parents/guardians/carers to complete to inform the school about treatment used and when it commenced, when their child has head lice.

These pro formas have been translated into 21 languages.

The toolkit also contains suggestions for the development of a school head lice policy (this document was previously provided to schools in circular 010/2003 Head Lice).

Schools are encouraged to work collaboratively with parents and the broader school community to develop head lice policies and to implement practices and procedures to prevent and to minimise the impact of head lice outbreaks on school populations.

The discovery of head lice can be a sensitive issue. Schools are asked to continue to exercise sensitivity towards this issue and to avoid any stigmatisation by maintaining student confidentiality.