Health in middle and high school

Verified 15 October 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

In each school, health and social work staff monitor the health of students. Prevention and health education measures are also being implemented as part of a health education program. Finally, the schooling of sick students can be arranged. We present you the information to know.

Mandatory vaccinations

To be enrolled in a school, your child should be vaccinated against certain diseases.

Vaccinations are checked regularly during school by the health staff of the institution. You must update your child's vaccines by following the schedule of vaccinations.

Vaccinations are not carried out in the school. You must contact a health professional.

Warning  

In vocational education, additional vaccinations may be required, especially against hepatitis B.

Recommended vaccinations

A national vaccination campaign against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections is being organized in schools.

Medical visit at the college

A medical examination is carried out by a nurse during the 12e year of the child. On this occasion, the nurse takes stock of the child's physical and psychological health.

These visits are free for families. The presence of a parent is possible.

Please note

If your child is overweight, the nurse can refer you to a health center or nursing home to set up a specific follow-up. This tracking, called health journey, includes a physical activity report and dietary and psychological follow-up sessions. To follow this route, your child must be 12 years old maximum.

With your consent, the information about your child's health collected during these examinations is recorded in the shared medical record.

Infirmary

A school has an infirmary to accommodate the sick student during his time at the college or high school.

There is a nurse on call. He can be helped by a school doctor.

The nurse makes a diagnosis and implements the care so that the student can resume his schooling in the best conditions.

In case of emergency, the institution can ask the firefighters to take care of the student and possibly send him to a hospital. The family must then be notified.

A national protocol specifies the organization of care.

Please note

The infirmary is not necessarily open all school time.

If a student is undergoing medical treatment, the family must inform the nurse and provide prescribed medications.

The nurse does not issue a prescription. However, it can administer the emergency contraception to a pupil.

Health, Citizenship and Environment Education Committee (CESCE)

One Committee on Education for Health, Citizenship and the Environment (CESCE) exists in every establishment.

In particular, it is responsible for defining a program in the following areas:

  • Health Education
  • Sexuality Education
  • Prevention of risky behaviors.

The CESCE is chaired by the head of the institution. It may be composed of the following members:

  • Representatives of teaching staff, parents of pupils and pupils appointed by the head of school on a proposal from the members of the board of directors
  • Educational, social and health staff of the institution (e.g. school nurse)
  • Representatives of the commune and the local authority (department or region)
  • Representatives of institutional partners (police, gendarmerie, departmental fire and rescue service - SDIS - and associations) and representatives of the citizen reserve of national education.

Nutrition education, prevention of overweight and obesity

In addition to the nutritional education received by children during their primary school education, taste training actions are implemented. They are the subject of various activities or activities.

As part of the National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS), students of class 5è receive a nutrition guide.

Vending machines for beverages and food products are prohibited inside the establishments.

Information on the harms of tobacco, alcohol and drugs

Information on the harms of tobacco, alcohol and drugs is part of the health education pathway that every school must put in place.

The actions are carried out by teachers, health and social workers and external stakeholders.

Reminder

The ban on smoking in the school applies to all, staff or students.

Sexuality Education

Sexuality education aims to promote responsible behavior of students and inform them about certain risks (prevention of sexually transmitted infections, prevention of sexual violence, etc.).

At least in middle school and high school 3 annual sessions Sexuality education programs are in place. They complement the various lessons taught in the course. These sessions are organized by a team of trained and volunteer staff (teachers, senior education advisors, nurses, etc.). Qualified external partners are usually called upon to facilitate the sessions.

These sexuality education sessions should also help detect and address situations of gender-based or sexual violence. The intelligence of a questionnaire it is offered to students at least once a year. They choose to complete the questionnaire nominatively or anonymously.

If a nominative questionnaire reveals the potential existence of gender-based or sexual violence, the student concerned is interviewed by at least one staff member of the institution. If the existence of this type of violence is revealed by a non-nominal questionnaire, a specific information and awareness-raising action is organized in the classroom or establishment.

Please note

At the beginning of the school year, you are informed that this type of questionnaire can be offered to your child. You can then refuse to allow your child to complete the questionnaire.

The rules differ depending on your child's type of illness:

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Short-term illness: absence of the child

When your child is absent due to illness, you must first report it to their school as soon as possible. You will then have to justify this absence in writing.

In case of contagious disease, you must report it to the head of the establishment. You will also need to provide a medical certificate to the school administration as soon as your child returns to class.

Long-term illness: home or hospital schooling

If your child's illness does not allow him to be welcomed full-time in his school, a pedagogical support system at home, in the hospital or at school (Apadhe) can be set up.

To do this, you, or the head teacher, through the Apadhe teacher coordinator, must make the request toDasen: titleContent. The child's medical certificate must be transmitted.

Who shall I contact

The departmental medical technical advisor decides whether the child's state of health requires the implementation of this device.

In this case, the student will be cared for at home by volunteer teachers, if possible from his institution.

If the pupil is hospitalized for a long period of time, he/she may benefit from free education provided by specialized teachers or approved associations.

If your child cannot benefit from these devices, they can follow a home schooling. You can also enroll it for free in the French national centre for distance education (Cned) in a regulated class, after favorable opinion of the Dasen: titleContent.

Other illness: individualized care (IAP)

If your child requires special care, especially in the case of chronic illness, you can ask the school to set up a individualized reception project (PAI).

Example :

If your child has a food allergy, you can use the IAP to set up a packed lunch system.

If your child's illness requires medications (asthma, diabetes), they should be available in the infirmary and in the child's first aid kit.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • By phone

    0,800 23 13 13 (free and anonymous call)

    Open from 8am to 2am, 7 days a week

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    Listening, support, advice and guidance.

    You can call that you are concerned directly or indirectly through drug use.

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    By chat

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  • Information about the AIDS virus, orientation, listening. Respect for anonymity. Telephone referral, if necessary, to specialists.

    By phone

    0800 840 800

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    7 days a week (including public holidays), from 8 am to 11 pm, in metropolitan France and the overseas departments.

    From the foreigner (even from a UE country), you can dial the translated number 00 33 1 41 83 42 77 (cost of the caller's call).

    By courier

    Access to contact form

  • A telephone number for any child or young person who is a victim of violence or anyone who is concerned about a situation of a child in danger or at risk of being so.

    By phone

    119 (free and confidential call)

    24/7

    A call on this number is geolocated, identified and prioritized. It does not appear on the invoices.

    On the website www.allo119.gouv.fr

  • Help and support for all those who have questions about their alcohol consumption or that of a loved one, information on the effects, risks, the law and places of reception

    By phone

    0,980,980,930

    This call is anonymous and not surcharged (cost of local communication from a fixed station, or included in box and mobile plans).

    Open 7 days a week, from 8am to 2am.

    By individual chat

    By going on www.alcool-info-service.fr/chat

    This individual chat service (live with a listener) is open:

    • Monday to Friday from 2 pm to midnight
    • Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm to 8 pm.

    When the chat is open and one of the listeners is available, a small window « Need help? » is displayed. Click the button to start a chat. 

    If the chat does not work, it is advisable to call.

  • If you think you may be a victim or witness of bullying at school

    To ask your questions anonymously and confidentially about school harassment.

    By phone

    3018

    Open 7 days a week, from 9am to 11pm

    Free and anonymous call

    Website

    e-enfance.org

    App Store and Google Play

    The 3018 app is also available from the App Store and Google Play.

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