(1)Where—
(a)a medical officer of a local education authority suspects that the person or clothing of a pupil in attendance at a relevant school is infested with vermin or in a foul condition, but
(b)action for the examination or cleansing of the pupil’s person and clothing cannot be taken immediately,
the medical officer may direct that the pupil is to be excluded from the school until such action has been taken, if he considers it necessary to do so in the interests either of the pupil or of other pupils in attendance at the school.
(2)A direction under subsection (1) is a defence to any proceedings under Chapter II of Part VI in respect of the failure of the pupil to attend school on any day on which he is excluded in pursuance of the direction, unless it is proved that the giving of the direction was necessitated by the wilful default of the pupil or his parent.
(3)For the purposes of this section a “relevant school” is—
(a)a school maintained by the local education authority, or
(b)a grant-maintained school within the authority’s area.