Felton C of E First School
Guidelines to school staff and Parents/Guardians
on the administration of medication
to pupils in mainstream school
(These guidelines refer to essential prescribed medication only)
Parents and Guardians have the principal responsibility for the administration of medication to their children, who have rights to education with their peers, regardless of short or long-term needs for medication whilst at school.
It is preferable for medication to be given at home whenever possible and if medicines are prescribed to be taken 3 or more times per day, parents should ask the prescribing doctor if the administration can occur outside normal school hours.
There are three main sets of circumstances in which requests may be made to the Head to deal with the administering of medicines, oral cream etc. to pupils at school:
a. Cases of chronic illness of long term complaints, such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy.
b. Cases where children recovering from a short-term illness are well enough to return to school but are receiving a course of antibiotics, cough medicine etc.
c. Exceptional circumstances e.g. a child with an immediate need for medication, such as epi-pen for allergic reactions.
Each request for medicine to be administered to a pupil in school should be considered on its merit, with the Head giving consideration to be best interests of the pupil and the implications for the school.
It is accepted that school staff may administer prescribed medication whilst acting in LOCO PARENTS, however, it is important to note that this does not imply a duty upon school staff to administer medication and the following should be noted:
No member of staff should be required to administer medication to a pupil.
No medication can be administered in school without the agreement of the Headteacher or their nominated representative.
If it is agreed that medication can be administered a named volunteer should be identified to administer it, usually the Headteacher.
Parents/guardians requesting administration of medication should be made aware of this document and asked to complete the Parental request for medication to be administered to Pupils form.
Guidance/Procedures to be followed.
Before following these guidelines schools must establish that: -
a It is appropriate that the child is at school despite the need for medication.
b It is essential for pupils to receive medication during school hours and on school premises.
c The Headteacher or his/her nominated representative has agreed to the medication being administered.
d A named volunteer has been identified.
e Appropriate guidance and training (where necessary) has been given to the volunteer.
f A written request from the parent/guardian has been received.
1. All essential medication, in the smallest practicable amount, should be brought to school by the parents/guardians and not the pupil and should be delivered personally to the Headteacher or designated member of staff.
2. All medication should be clearly labelled with its contents, owners name and dosage.
3. Medication to be taken orally should be supplied with an individual measuring spoon.
4. Whilst medication is in school it should be suitably stared away from the children, preferably in the staff room or office and should be readily accessible to the named volunteer when required. The exception to this is the inhaler, which an older child with asthma might need to relieve symptoms quickly or to take before starting exercise. The children should be allowed to carry this inhaler themselves. Younger children with asthma may not be able to use the inhaler without help or guidance and so their inhaler should be stored safely.
5. If a pupil brings to school any medication for which the Headteacher has not received written notification, the staff of the school will not be held responsible for it and reserves the right not to administer it.
6. Renewal of medication, which has passed its expiry date, must be the responsibility of the parent. Expired medication should be collected from school by parents within 7 days of the expiry date. The school should contact parents immediately if medication remains uncollected.
7. Where any change in medication or dosage occurs, clear written instructions from parents/guardians should be provided.
8. Information regarding medication will be deemed to expire at the end of each term and if administration of medication is to continue all relevant information must be confirmed in writing at the beginning of each term.
9. In all cases where following the administration of medication, there are concerns regarding the reaction in the pupil, medical advice should be sought immediately.
10. Records should be kept of the drugs taken and the regularity of dose and should be kept with the parental consent form for 5 years.
11. There are a very small number of children who need medicine to be given by injection or other routes. This is an unusual circumstance and the arrangements are best worked out between the school, parents and the doctor who prescribes the medication. Experience suggests that it is helpful to have a meeting in school for it is essential that both the parents and the teaching staff are happy about the arrangements that are made.
Only prescribed analgesics will be administered.
Children with asthma usually carry their medication in the form of an aerosol inhaler or a nebeulizer, which can ease breathing difficulties.
As a rule, if the inhaler is needed to relieve symptoms regularly or if attacks are sporadic and particularly severe the child should be allowed to carry the inhaler around at all times. Alternatively, the inhaler can be stored safely away and issued by staff as and when needed by the child. This method may be more appropriate for young pupils in first schools.
If the inhaler is needed as a preventative measure to be taken three times a day, then it is unlikely that it will need to be kept in school.
Parents/Guardians requesting administration of medication should be made aware of this document and asked to complete the Parental request for medication to be administered to pupils form.
Review Date: February 2006
Signed .
ADMINISTERING MEDICATION TO PUPILS
PARENTAL REQUEST FOR MEDICINE TO BE ADMINISTERED
To: Headteacher ..
School: ..
The need for medication to be administered to pupils during school hours must be supported by a parents written request and is only possible for medicine prescribed by the childs doctor. Over the counter medication cannot be administered by school staff.
It is also important to keep the administering of medication to a minimum, and parents are requested to consider the possibility of administering the daily doses out of school hours. If this is not possible the following consent form must be completed.
I wish my child (name) to have the following medicine administered by school staff as indicated.
1. Name of medication .
2. Time at which to be given ..
3. Amount to be given ..
4. From (date) to (date) .
I undertake to deliver the medicine personally to you and to replace it whenever necessary. I also undertake to advise you immediately of any change of treatment prescribed by the doctor or hospital.
Signed ..(parent/guardian)
Name ..
Date