Drugs and Medication Advice for parents

The school has a very strict Drugs and Medication Policy.  It is available on request.  Here are the main points that parents and carers must know and co-operate with.

1. Daily medication

Medication, where possible, should be managed at home.  For example, if it is “3 times a day”, this can easily be done at home, before and after school and then bedtime. This includes antibiotics.

No medication or treatments (eg prescription creams, lotions and ointment) are administered without written permission from parents / carers. In the event that a pupil comes to school with new medication, then a Dojo message containing all the relevant information for administration will be sufficient until a permission form has been sent home with them on that day. This must be completed and returned the following day.

   Medication permission forms can be requested from the school for any new medicines or changes. Medication will not be administered unless a consent form is completed stating the specific instructions on how to administer, when to administer it, the dose, possible side effects and giving consent is completed. It is the responsibility of the parents / carers to supply information about the medicines that their child needs to take at school and of any changes to the prescription.

When medication is sent to school it must be in the original container, with the original label.  The label must state the child’s name, name of medication, date of dispensing (if no expiry date), expiry date, dose and frequency.  If a bottle comes in a box, please ensure that the pharmacist labels both the box and the bottle. If only the box is labelled, we will also ask you to supply a labelled bottle.

  If medication is supplied to school that does not comply with the above standards, then parents will be informed and the staff will not administer the medication. If tablets need to be halved or quartered, parents need to provide a tablet cutter for their child’s personal use.

 Medicines will be kept securely in pupils' classrooms, in a “staff only” locked cupboard that is easily accessible when required.

 If pupils bring a suitcase / bag in to school containing medication, (eg to or from respite care), it is the parents / carers' responsibility to inform staff. The suitcase will then be stored in a locked cupboard with no pupil access.

   If an individual refuses to take their medication, school staff will not force them to do so. The school will inform parents / carers and record the refusal using appropriate documentation.

  If staff have any doubts about any procedures or instructions, then they will check with parents or medical staff first before taking action.

   It is the responsibility of parents / carers to make a note of the expiry dates and to send in new medication before school runs out. Staff will do their utmost to support families and will try to give them notice via Class Dojo/ or telephone, but essentially, this is a parent / carers responsibility.

  Medicines will not be given beyond their expiry date. Expired or unused medication will be sent home for parents/carers to return to a pharmacy for safe disposal. All liquid medications, regardless of expiry dates on the bottles, will only be used for 6 months.

    Medication must be handed to the bus escort with clear instructions for safe transportation to and from school.  The escort will hand it to school staff.  We will do the same when sending it home.

  It is vital that the school is informed of all the medication that a child is taking.  This includes medication that may only be administered at home as well as any administered at school.  In an emergency, paramedics and hospital staff will need this information.

2. Medication given through a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube

This procedure may vary for individual pupils.  Staff will follow individual feeding charts/care plans.

3. Educational visits / out of school activities (school trips)

 Staff will be responsible for signing medication out of school and administering it whilst on the trip.

4. Paracetamol/ibuprofen in school

  We do not provide paracetamol/ibuprofen for general pupil use.  We will give a child their own non-prescribed paracetamol/ibuprofen but must have permission from parents/carers to do so.  We will only give the dosage as indicated on the box that matches a child’s age.  If your child requires more than the recommended dose, then we can only give this if it is prescribed by a doctor.   We will also only give pain relief for 48 hours.  If a child need paracetamol/ibuprofen for extended periods of time then this will need to be prescribed by a doctor.

    If your child has already had paracetamol/ibuprofen before coming to school and you want us to give more, you must tell us when and how much the last dose was.  We will always tell you if your child has had paracetamol/ibuprofen in school. If staff give a pupil pain relief in school, parents will be informed by telephone or Dojo.

5. Rescue medication

  It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that pupils have their rescue medication, correctly
labelled, in school. If not, parents/carers will be asked to bring it in or collect their child. If a seizure occurs
before the parent/carer arrives at school then, an ambulance will be called immediately.
For safe practice the school asks for two prescribed rescue medicines per child to be kept in school at
all times. Each tube of rescue medication must be individually labelled, and the seals intact.

  In emergency situations, Care Plans will be followed. In the event of administration of rescue
medication parents / carers will be informed of any action taken. Dependent on the pupil's recovery
and Care Plan,  parents / carers may be asked to collect their child from school, or to meet their child
at the hospital if further treatment or monitoring is required

   If we have to give rescue medication, we will tell you what we have done. We will tell you if your child needs to be collected from school or if you need to meet him/her at the hospital if further treatment or monitoring is required.

   It is the parent’s/carer's  responsibility to inform school if rescue medication has been given at home,
via Class Dojo or phone call, noting the dose and time given. If a child has been given rescue
medication at home, a further dose within 24 hours would be classed as a 2nd dose. School are
unable to give a second dose and therefore, paramedics would be called immediately upon seizure
presentation, within this 24-hour timeframe.

6. Inhalers in school

   It is extremely important that, for their safety, pupils with asthma / breathing difficulties do not come in
to school without their prescribed inhaler and spacer if required, as per care plan.  Children without an inhaler will be sent home/parents informed that they must bring the inhaler to school immediately.

   If we have to give a child their inhaler to use in school, we will follow the Care Plan and let parents/carers know.  Parents/carers may be asked to collect their child from school or meet them at the hospital if further treatment or monitoring is required.

  There are times when it is appropriate for a pupil to carry their own inhaler.  Permission will be sought from parents/carers before this decision is made.

7. Adrenaline Auto-injectors (AAIs/EpiPens)

Pupils who have been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis are required to have their own
prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) available in school at all times. Each pupil will have an upto-
date Healthcare Plan, and their personal AAIs will be stored in accordance with the school’s
medication policy.

It is the responsibility of parents/carers to ensure that these AAIs are provided to the school
and remain in date.

In certain circumstances, a spare AAI may be administered by the school. This applies where a
pupil/adult is known to be at risk of anaphylaxis, but their own AAI is unavailable, has expired, or is
not effective. It may also be used in situations where a pupil/adult is suspected of experiencing
anaphylaxis for the first time

8. Antibiotics

 If your child is being treated for something that isn’t contagious (ie other children may catch it), s/he may come in to school if s/he is well enough.  The giving of antibiotics can usually be done at home.  If it is for three times a day this can easily be done at home. If the prescription says more daily doses the school will decide if it can manage this.

  If a child is being treated for something that is contagious, e.g. other children are at risk of catching it, then they should stay at home until they are well.  Please remember there are some very vulnerable children in school, who need to be kept away from infections as much as possible.

9. Suction Units

If a child has been prescribed a suction machine this must come to school each day. This must be:
fully charged, free of secretions, labelled with the pupils name, in full working order with all parts ready to go, including spare Yanker/catheters to be kept in school
 

It is the parents/carers responsibility to ensure children comes to school with a working suction unit.
Parents will be called immediately should a child come to school without one. Should difficulties arise
during the period of time when parents are travelling, an ambulance will be called.

 

10. Medication that may cause loose stools/diarrhoea.

    Staff are aware that Movicol and other prescribed laxatives will mean that a child may have loose
stools. Parents/carers should inform school when these have been administered at home, especially in the
case of an extra or increased dose.

If a child is on any additional medication that could cause loose stools/diarrhoea, then parents/carers should make school aware of this by updating their list of medication, and providing the information leaflet (from the medication) or letter from the GP.

Staff may still act in the best interests of the child and their peers by sending a pupil home after loose
bowel movements. This would be for reasons such as; a child’s stools are different from the norm
when on this medication, a child displays other symptoms such as a temperature, or if a number of
pupils have had diarrhoea and we are unable to confirm if a child’s loose stools are a result of their
medication or a bug.

The school will then follow Public Health Guidance around the recommended period to be kept away from school which is 48 hours from the last episode of diarrhoea. This is also the recommendation for cases of vomiting where a bug is the suspected cause.

11. LifeVac

The school recognises that, in rare emergency situations involving choking, a LifeVac device may be
used as part of its response to safeguard pupils’ health and wellbeing.

The LifeVac is a non-powered, suction-based airway clearance device intended to remove obstructions when standard first aid choking procedures have not been successful or are not appropriate.

In most cases, the LifeVac will only be used after recognised first aid interventions for choking, such
as back blows and abdominal thrusts (where appropriate), have been attempted and have failed to
clear the airway.

For some pupils with complex physical or medical needs, standard life-saving interventions may not
be suitable or safe due to their individual circumstances. This may include, for example, pupils who
are wheelchair users or those with significant physical disabilities that prevent the safe administration
of abdominal thrusts or other established techniques. In such cases, the LifeVac may be used as an
alternative intervention