Health Matters
Administration of medication during the school day
Under the 2026/27 Medical Emergency and Medicines Policy, medicines are administered at school only when not doing so would be detrimental to the child's health. If prescribed treatment, including antibiotics, is needed during school hours, please contact the school office to arrange it under this policy; do not change prescribed doses or timings without medical advice.
Request the medication consent form from the school office, complete it and return it. Supply the prescription and/or hospital report with clear instructions on times and doses. Staff record each administration.
- Supply medicines in their original container.
- Clearly label the medicine with your child's name.
- Include dosage instructions and administration times.
- Check that the medicine is within its expiry date.
- Provide written parental consent before medication is administered.
Do not put medication in your child's backpack: hand it to the school office. If your child travels by bus, hand the medication to the bus monitor together with the signed consent form. Any exception for carrying or self-administering medication must first be agreed with the school as described below.
Safe storage & self-administration
Medicines are kept securely in a medical cabinet and designated medical area, with a medical refrigerator where required. Emergency medicines, such as inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, are kept easily accessible.
Some pupils, particularly those with asthma or similar conditions, may carry and administer their own medication only with written parental permission AND the school's agreement that they can do so responsibly.
Medical information and allergies
- If your child suffers from any serious illness or medical condition, whether current or past, please request the medical information form from the school office, complete it and return it with the details of the treatment or medication required.
- If your child suffers from any allergy or intolerance, please request the allergies and intolerances form from the school office, complete it and return it with the details of the treatment or medication required.
Inhalers: if your child has an asthma inhaler, please hand an additional inhaler to the school office for use in an emergency. Please note that your child's name should be clearly marked on the inhaler.
Families must provide accurate, up-to-date medical information and inform the school of any changes in their child's condition, treatment or medication.
Individual Healthcare Plans
Pupils with long-term or complex medical needs may require an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP). The school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) creates it with parents or guardians, school staff and healthcare professionals where necessary. The plan sets out the condition, symptoms and triggers, medication requirements, emergency procedures and staff responsibilities.
Medical emergencies at school
Examples include severe allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, seizures and serious injuries. The school's response is:
- 1. A trained member of staff assesses the situation immediately.
- 2. First aid is provided where necessary.
- 3. Emergency services (112) are called if required.
- 4. Parents or guardians are contacted as soon as possible.
- 5. A staff member stays with the pupil until help arrives.
- 6. The incident is recorded in the school accident/incident log.
Medical needs on trips & activities
The school aims to include pupils with medical needs in trips and activities wherever possible. Before a trip, staff review pupils' needs, take the required medication and ensure that a trained member of staff is responsible for administering it if needed.
Trained staff & confidential records
The Headteacher and DSL oversee medical procedures, safe storage and administration, appropriate staff training and record keeping. Staff follow Healthcare Plans, act in emergencies and record and report incidents. Training appropriate to their role may include first aid, asthma management, epinephrine auto-injectors and awareness of pupils' medical conditions.
Medication records, incidents and emergencies, parental consent forms and Individual Healthcare Plans are stored securely in accordance with data protection requirements. The policy is reviewed annually, or earlier if guidance changes, a significant incident occurs or improvements are identified.
Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
If your children have vomiting and/or diarrhoea, please keep them at home AT LEAST 48 HOURS AFTER THE LAST EPISODE to avoid further cases. Children may only return to school 48 hours after the diarrhoea or vomiting has ceased.
Temperature / fever
If your children have a fever or temperature (37.5 or more) in the morning, please do not bring them to school that day (even if you have given them paracetamol or ibuprofen). Please keep your children at home until the temperature or fever has gone.
Infectious diseases
If your children are unwell and show symptoms of an infectious disease (for example chickenpox, impetigo, hand-foot-mouth, ringworm or conjunctivitis), please keep them at home and follow the advice of a doctor.
- Chickenpox: please keep your children at home until all the blisters have formed scabs. This is usually around 5 days after the spots appear.
- Impetigo: please keep your children at home until all the sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
- Ringworm: your children may return to school once treatment has begun.
- Scarlet fever: this can be treated with antibiotics; children may return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment. If scarlet fever is not treated with antibiotics, children can remain contagious for 2 to 3 weeks and must stay at home until the symptoms have disappeared.
- Mumps: please see a doctor and keep your child at home for at least 5 days from the onset of the first symptoms.
Head lice
If your children have head lice or nits, please treat their hair immediately and then continue with the treatment as instructed by the pharmacy (do not forget to wash towels and sheets and to treat the whole family as well).
If head lice are detected on your children at school, you will need to collect them; however, once the treatment has been applied and all the nits have been removed, they can return to school immediately.
The treatment should be repeated again, generally 5 to 7 days after the first treatment, to make sure that any remaining nits are destroyed, but please check the instructions on the medication.
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