CIRENCESTER KINGSHILL SCHOOL

 

 

POLICY FOR SUPPORTING PUPILS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS - 2005/6

 

Our aim is to ensure that pupils with medical needs receive proper care and support at school and to enable pupils, parents and staff to feel confident that the pupil is able to integrate as far as possible into “normal school life”.

 

It is the parents’ responsibility to keep a child at home when acutely unwell.  It is the parent’s responsibility to inform the school of any on-going medical condition or if a medical condition develops.  This should be done in writing to the appropriate Head of Year, who will then pass the information to reception to update records.

 

1.  Short term medical needs

  • Medication should only be brought into school if it is vital that it should be taken during school hours.  Where possible arrangements should be made to take medication out of school hours.  Parents should discuss this matter with the prescribing doctor or dentist.

 

  • Any medication needed during school hours should be clearly labelled with the pupils’ name and tutor group.  All medication should be handed in to reception and should be accompanied by a written letter, signed by parent and explaining the exact dose and time the medication should be taken.  It is the parent’s responsibility to advise the school of any possible side effects.  Any medication will be taken under supervision.

 

  • Painkillers will not be issued by school staff unless an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) has been agreed between parents and school.  If painkillers are to be given, according to an IHCP, the pupil will be supervised by a member of staff and parents will be notified in writing immediately (one copy by hand; one by post) stating the dose given and the time.

 

2.  Long-term medical needs

  • It is the parent’s responsibility to inform the school of any ongoing medical condition and to up-date the school of any changes to the condition and/or treatment.  This should be done in writing to the Head of Year and where appropriate the IHCP will be amended.

 

  • Where the medical condition requires ongoing medication, regular hospital visits or may require emergency treatment, an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) will be agreed between parents and the school.  This may also require input from the GP/School Nurse as appropriate.

 

  • It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure any medication kept in school is kept up-to-date and is disposed of when past its expiry date.

 

3.  Self-management

  • It is good practice for pupils to manage their own medication and, where this has been agreed through an IHCP, the pupil will be supervised whilst doing so.

 

  • Medication must not, for the safety of other pupils, be carried around by the pupil except where a pupil has been prescribed a blue inhaler for the use of asthma relief.  All other medication will be kept in a secure cupboard in reception.

 

4. School Visits

  • It is the parent’s responsibility to complete in detail medical forms, issued by the school prior to a day/residential visit,  and ensure emergency contact details are accurate.
  • A copy of the pupils’ IHCP should accompany the visit and parents should ensure staff are fully aware of any specific problems that may be encountered on the visit.

 

  • All staff accompanying the visit should be aware of the pupils with IHCP’s.
  • If staff have further concerns regarding the pupil’s safety or the safety of other pupils, they should seek advice from the parents of the school nurse/child’s GP.

 

5.  Sporting Activities

  • Pupils who are prescribed blue inhalers for the relief of asthma should be allowed immediate access to their medication if necessary.

 

  • Staff supervising sporting activities should be aware of relevant medical conditions and emergency procedures.  A copy of any pupils IHCP’s will be kept in the P.E. office.

 

6.  Illness in School - Procedure

  • It is the parent’s responsibility to keep the child at home when acutely unwell.

 

  • Staff at school are not health professionals, but will always act in what they believe to be the best interests of the child.

 

  • If a child says s/he is unwell and is unable to carry on in the lesson, the teacher/tutor will issue a ‘Medical Card’ and the pupil should report to reception.  Where necessary another pupil should accompany the unwell child.

 

  • Where a pupil is obviously too ill to continue the day in school, parent/carer will be contacted and asked to come to school to collect the child.  The parent/carer may authorise another responsible adult to do this on their behalf, but under no circumstances will the child be allowed to leave the school unaccompanied.

 

  • Where the pupils is feeling ‘off colour’, but has no clear signs of illness they will be encouraged back to lessons after a short spell in the medical room.

 

7.  Accidents/Injuries

  • A list of first aiders is displayed throughout the school and those named staff should be contacted immediately in the case of an accident or emergency.

 

  • First aid will be administered and in non-emergency situations parents will be contacted so they can take the child to A & E for further check-ups where appropriate.

 

  • In urgent cases a 999 call will be made first and parents contacted immediately afterwards.  Two pupils will be posted near the entrance to the school to advise the ambulance where to go.  The child will be accompanied in the ambulance by a member of staff until the parent/carer has arrived.

 

  • Generally staff should not take pupils to hospitals in their own car.  However, where deemed the best course of action, the member of staff should be accompanied by another adult and have public liability vehicle insurance.

 

8.  Information about pupils’ medical needs

  • A copy of IHCP’s agreed between parents and school will be kept in reception, the pastoral office, PE office and on the pupil’s file.

 

  • A list of pupils with specific allergies will be kept in the medical book in reception, to enable relevant information to be checked quickly and where necessary relayed to ambulance staff, A & E etc.

 

  • A list of pupils with IHCP’s will be posted on the cover board near the staff room, so that teachers covering for colleagues and supply staff can be kept informed.  They should refer to the medical file in the Pastoral Office.

 

*    Copies of the IHCP will be available to staff, with the consent of the parents.  Every attempt      will be made to ensure other staff, such a supply staff, teaching assistants and support staff   are also made   aware.

 

February 2005

 

 

Reviewed by P Wilson                         

 

Adopted by Governors                                    

 

Review date