Page 13 - Red-Hall-Prospectus 2022

Medicines in School

The LA would normally expect that pupils who require medication for a short term illness or acute
condition would be kept away from school with the medication being administered by the child's parent.
However, there may be circumstances where the only reason that the child is not attending school is the
need for prescribed medicines to continue until a course or dosage is finished or where medicines or
medical procedures are necessary on a long-term basis to sustain the child's health.

It is preferable for parents to undertake the responsibility of supervising personally the taking of the
medicine by their child in the school. The following guidance is offered for cases where parents cannot
reasonably be expected to supervise or administer medicines themselves.

It is school policy that only prescribed medicines which need to be administrated 4 times a day can be
brought into school.

Prescribed medicines or drugs prescribed must not be brought into school without prior permission of the
Headteacher. In each case:

1. There must be prior written agreement between the parents and the school before any action is
taken.

2. Clear written instructions given by the parent, preferably supported with medical advice.

3. All medicines must be clearly labelled with doctor’s sticker, contents, owner’s name and dosage, and
stored in accordance with instructions which accompany the medicines.

4. The medicines should be delivered to the school office by a parent who should provide indemnity by
completing a form from the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Business Manager or School Admin. Staff.
Medicines must be in the smallest practical amount, in the containers issued by the pharmacist.

There are two main sets of circumstances in which requests may be made:

1. Long term illness/chronic complaints;

2. Short term illness/acute complaints.

School Health Service The aim of the School Health Service is to promote the health and wellbeing of the
school child and young person so that they may reach their full potential and not be disadvantaged
through ill-health.

During Year 1, health assessments take place at school with the School Health Adviser. Parents are
asked to give consent and attend. If necessary, a medical with the school doctor can be arranged. Also,
hearing/screening will be carried out by an audiometric technician.

Dental screening is carried out by dental officers each year. No treatment or further inspection will be
offered without the consent of a parent or guardian.

Health surveillance will be carried out by the School Health Adviser, who is a Registered General Nurse
with further specialised training in school nursing, based at the Local Health Centre or Clinic. The nurse
will conduct individual health care interviews at the school. It will not be necessary for parents to
attend, as ideally the children will be seen individually where they will be encouraged to participate in
selfcare and to understand the purpose of screening tests. In this way, by the time the child leaves
school, he/she will have the education to develop his/her own programme of health care. If there are
any health problems found at these interviews, the school nurse will contact the parent or guardian and
assist them in getting help for the child.

The School Health Adviser for this school is based at Ladies Walk Clinic, Sedgley, Tel No.
01902 575949

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