Medicines

Administration of Medicines to Children in School

Introduction

Administration of Medicines in School Policy

The school aims to support children with long term medical conditions and those with short term illnesses that may require medication during school time. However it is important for parents and carers to understand that the primary responsibility for a child’s health rests with them and that children who are unwell should be kept at home until they are fully recovered. If your child is unwell at school you will be contacted and asked to collect your child.

The following guidelines are provided to give you the information of what the school is able to offer should your child require medication during school hours.

Regular Prescription Medicines

If your child requires medicines regularly that have been prescribed by a doctor and are required during school hours please contact the SENCo/FSW to make the necessary arrangements. Staff are only able to administer these if;

• A permission form has been completed.
• The medicine is supplied in its original container with the dispensing information intact, showing the child’s name and details of times and dosage of the medicine.
• Staff have received the necessary training.

Their medicine should be handed to a member of staff for safe storage. The school will maintain a record of administration. Please be aware that staff are not able to make changes to the dosages of medicine on parental instruction, this must be done by the prescriber.

Emergency Medicine

If your child has a medical condition that may require medication as an emergency such as antihistamines, an Epi-pen or asthma inhaler these will be stored in an accessible place within the child’s classroom. Please make an appointment to discuss this with Helen Lawton if this is the first time your child has required emergency medicines in school or if there are any changes to their prescription or emergency treatment.

If your child is in Years 4-6 and you consider your child able to administer their own medication this is possible if:

• You have given written permission and completed the necessary forms
• Their classroom staff are aware of where their medication is stored and/or another supply of the medication is kept in the classroom in case the child is not able to self administer.

In the case of your child being at risk of anaphylaxis, severe allergy, asthma attack, epileptic seizures or they suffer from any other condition that may give rise to an emergency situation please discuss this with Helen Lawton who will ensure that all staff are made aware and that they have the necessary training to deal with an emergency situation.

Prescription Medicines for Short Term Use

If your child is prescribed a short course of medication (for example antibiotics) and your child is well enough to return to school before this has been completed. Please complete a form (available from the school office or from the links to the left) and hand it with the medicine to a member of staff at the beginning of the school day. Please be aware that at the moment a form will need to be completed for each day that medicine is required (this is currently under review).  Please also make your child aware that they need medicine and at what time so that they can remind a member of staff if necessary. Also remind them to bring it home if you have only one supply of medicine.

Over the Counter Medicines

Examples of these are analgesics (pain-killers) for tooth ache, headache (not associated with head injury), dysmenorrhoea (painful periods), or early symptoms of mild ear ache. Other treatments for symptom control of hay fever may be self administered by older children but can usually be administered at home, outside of school hours. If your child requires medicine for a school trip to prevent travel sickness please make their class teacher aware when you return your permission form so the necessary arrangements can be made.

Medicines that you have bought over the counter from a pharmacy that have not been prescribed by a doctor may not routinely be administered by school staff.

However if your child is in Year 4-6 and you consider them responsible enough to administer their own medicines this is possible if:

• You have given written permission and completed the necessary forms
• Classroom staff are made aware of where the medicine is stored in order to keep it safe.

Only one dose of the medicine should be brought to school each day. Your child must be made aware of how to take the medicine safely.

Please note that if your child requires treatment for a raised temperature they should be kept at home, even if they otherwise appear well.

Please use the links below to print forms for the administration of medicines in school.