Administering Medicines
Where children are unwell and not fit to be in school, and where they are still suffering from an infection which may be passed to others, children should remain at home to be cared for and looked after.
The school is committed to ensuring that children may return to school as soon as possible after an illness, (subject to the health and safety of the school community) and that children with chronic health needs are supported at school. Here we set out clearly a sound basis for ensuring that children with medical needs receive proper care and support in school. Our aim is to:
- Support regular attendance of all pupils
- Ensure staff understand their roles and responsibilities in administering medicines
- Ensure parents understand their responsibilities in respect of their children’s medical needs
- Ensure medicines are stored and administered safely
PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES
- Medicines should only be brought to school when essential (where it would be detrimental to the child’s health if the medicine were not administered during the school day)
- All medicines should be taken directly to the school office by a responsible adult; Medicines will only be accepted in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and with the prescriber’s instructions for administration
- The medicine should be clearly marked with the child’s name and class
- The appropriate dosage spoon should be included with all medicines sent to school
- Any medicine administered will be recorded by the staff member in the Medication Book in the School Office
- Medicines will only be accepted for administration in school on completion of the appropriate form by a parent or carer
NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES
- We will also administer non-prescription medicines if necessary. They must also be handed in at the office by a responsible adult and they will not be given to children without prior written permission from parents as above
- They should be clearly marked with the child’s name and class
- Children must not carry medicines themselves for self administration during the day. The medicine must be collected from the office and taken under the supervision of an adult
- Any non-prescription medicine administered will also be recorded in the Medication Book in the School Office (see Appendix 1)
- We will not give paracetamol or ibuprofen routinely as their primary use is to control raised temperature for which a child should be at home