Medical and Health Matters
Sickness and Diarrhoea
If your child has a sickness or diarrhoea bug, please ensure that a period of 48 hours without sickness or diarrhoea elapses before sending them back to school. This will help to contain the spread of such illnesses.
If your child becomes unwell at school and is clearly unable to stay, we will always contact you. Please ensure that all emergency contact numbers are kept up to date.
Head Lice
Head lice are a very common occurrence and nothing to feel embarrassed about. Do let the school know if your child contracts nits or head lice so that we can ask all parents to check their children’s hair. The school nurse is able to offer advice if you find you have a persistent problem.
Infectious and Contagious Diseases
Please inform us immediately if your child has an infectious or contagious disease. E.g. Rubella (German measles), chicken pox, scarlet fever etc. in order that we can minimise the spread, where possible, and keep other parents informed.
Below is a useful NHS chart - 'When should my child return to school?' - which details the typical time off needed for common childhood illnesses.
Medicine
If your child requires medication as part of their everyday life, for example asthma, or needs medication for a short period only, please come to the school office to make the necessary arrangements. We are happy to administer medication but will only do so if a 'Medicine- Parental Agreement' form has been signed by the parent with the name of the medicine, the dosage and frequency clearly indicated, and the medicine clearly labelled with the child's full name.
All medicines are locked away, except for those for emergencies - e.g. asthma inhalers, anaphylaxis 'epipens', diabetes medicines, which are kept in appropriate place in the child's class.
Asthma
Asthma inhalers should be clearly marked with your child’s name and will be kept in their classrooms so that they are readily available to be used when necessary. An Individual Healthcare Plan (IHCP) will need to be completed and this can be found below. Cough sweets are considered to be a medicine and are therefore not allowed in the classrooms. Our full Asthma Policy can be found on our Policies and Procedures page.
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
If your child has a severe allergy and requires an adrenaline pen you will need to fill out an Individual Healthcare Plan (see below). Schools are now permitted to hold an emergency adrenaline pen, but these can only be used if parents have signed a consent form. There is no guarantee that school will have an emergency pen on site as there are, on occasions - and as is the case at present - national shortages. Also, the emergency pen may have been used for another pupil. It is therefore imperative that parents ensure that should their child need one they provide the school with an adrenaline pen. It is parents' responsibility to ensure that it is kept in date. Our Allergen and Anaphylaxis Policy can be found on the Policies and Procedures page.
Other Medical Conditions
We are an inclusive school. We have experience of supporting children with life-long and life-limiting medical conditions. If your child has a serious medical condition, you will need to meet with staff before your child is admitted on roll to discuss their individual needs. An Individual Healthcare Plan will set out their individual needs. This is usually written with the support of the community nurse team or another relevant healthcare individual who knows your child well. Our policy to support the full inclusion of children with medical needs can be found on our Policies and Procedures web page.