When can my child go back to school after a concussion?
Reviewed November 2026 by Online Concussion Clinic, a Perth-based telehealth concussion physiotherapy service. How this site is run
Short answer
Most children can go back to school within a few days of a concussion, once they've had 24 to 48 hours of relative rest and schoolwork doesn't clearly worsen their symptoms. Start gradually, with shorter days and breaks if needed. Return to school always comes before return to sport.
School comes before sport
The Australian concussion guidelines put return to learning first. A child should be back at school, coping without their symptoms getting worse, before they go back to contact training or games. Missing more school than needed can make recovery harder, not easier.
A gradual return
- First 24–48 hours: relative rest at home, with light activity and less screen time.
- Light schoolwork at home, such as reading, in short blocks with breaks.
- Back at school part-time, or full days with breaks and adjustments.
- Full days and normal workload, including tests and assignments.
A small rise in symptoms is OK. If symptoms get clearly worse or don't settle within an hour, ease back for a day.
Adjustments that help
- Rest breaks, or a quiet place to go if symptoms build up
- Less screen time, larger print, or printed notes
- Extra time for work, and postponing exams or big assessments
- Sitting out PE, sport and playground games until cleared
- Wearing sunglasses or avoiding noisy areas if light or noise bothers them
Let the school know about the concussion. Many WA schools have a concussion policy or a staff member who coordinates it, and they'll often need a letter from your GP or physiotherapist.
When to get more help
If your child can't manage a full school day after about a week or two, or symptoms are still there after four weeks, see a GP or concussion physiotherapist. Children often benefit from a planned return to school and sport.
Call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is:
- Loss of consciousness, or getting drowsier or harder to wake
- A seizure or convulsion
- Severe or worsening headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Double vision or loss of vision
- Weakness, tingling or burning in the arms or legs
- Increasing confusion, agitation, restlessness or unusual behaviour
- A visible deformity of the skull
For children, the emergency department at Perth Children's Hospital (Nedlands) is open 24 hours. If you're unsure, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24 hours) for nurse advice.
Find concussion care in Perth
Browse verified concussion providers across Perth — physiotherapists, GPs and neuropsychologists — and use the map to find one close to home. You don't need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately.
Where this information comes from
- Patricios JS, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport – Amsterdam, October 2022. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023;57:695–711. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898
- Concussion Recognition Tool 6 (CRT6), from the same conference.
- Australian Institute of Sport. Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement 2024, and the Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport. ausport.gov.au/concussion
This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation. Your own health professional's advice comes first, and your sport or school may have its own concussion rules.