Medical Advice

Medical information

The prime responsibility for a pupil’s health rests with parents. It is anticipated that parents / carers will ensure that appropriate information is provided for the school that enables proficient management and a good understanding of their child’s medical condition; this includes working in partnership in the management of any medicines administered at school.

HCAT schools take advice and guidance from a range of sources, including the School Nurse, Paediatric Consultants, and other Health professionals in addition to the information provided by parents in the first instance. This enables us to manage support effectively and to minimise any disruption to learning. HCAT schools will also ensure that the arrangements to support a child with medical needs give parents and pupils confidence in the school’s ability to provide effective support.

The arrangements will also show an understanding of how medical conditions impact on a child’s ability to learn, as well as increase confidence and promote self-care.

The school is committed to assisting children with long-term or complex medical conditions and working in partnership with their parents /carers.

Further Information

NHS Guidance - Is my child too ill for school

Administering of medicines in school

The school will only accept medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse prescriber or pharmacist prescriber.

Any prescribed medicines to be given in school must be given to the school office at the start of the school day, together with a completed medical form (see link below or collect a copy from the school office).

Children are not allowed to carry medicines themselves.

Medicines must be brought to school in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and must include the prescriber’s instructions for administration. Where a child needs more than one prescribed medicine, each should be stored in a separate container. The school will never accept nor administer medicines that have been taken out of the original container. Nor will they make changes to dosages on parental instructions. It is to be noted that medicines which need to be taken three times a day should be taken before school, after school and at bedtime if possible.

All emergency medicines, such as asthma inhalers, will be readily available to children and not locked away. Storage of other emergency medication e.g. epipens will be included in individual care plans and will be decided in consultation with the child, class teacher, health professional and parents.

Sick children

Parents are contacted by telephone whenever a child is considered to be too ill to remain in school.

For this reason it is vital that the school has up-to-date Home and Work telephone numbers to ring in the event of an emergency.

First Aid in School

We have a number of staff qualified to undertake first aid. Where your child has been treated by a first aider, he or she will bring home a note giving details of the incident and the treatment to ensure you are informed should further treatment become necessary.

Where a child requires emergency treatment this will be sought by the staff ‘in loco parentis’ and the parents will be contacted.

In the case of serious accidents, pupils are sent, or taken to, the casualty department at Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment. In such a situation the parents are consulted first if this is at all possible. All serious accidents are reported on a standard form, which is submitted, to the Education Authority.

Children with special medical conditions

Parents are asked to indicate to the school any medical conditions, which might affect their child’s schooling. It is vital that the school is aware of eyesight or hearing problems.