Contents
Mission Statement and Aim
2
1. Legal requirements
2
2. Prescribed Medication
3
3. Non-prescribed Medication
4
4. Asthma
4
5. Safety Management
4
6. Disposal of Medicines
5
7. Parents Responsibility
5
8. Individual Health Care Plan - IHCP
5
9. Managing Medicines on School Trips
5
10. Emergencies
6
11. Role of the Headteacher and Governing Body
6
12. Monitoring and Review
6
13. Relevant Policies and Documentation
6
Appendix 1 - Parental agreement to administer medicine
7
Appendix 2 - Administering Prescribed Medicine Record
8
Appendix 3 - Asthma Record Letter
9
Appendix 4 - Asthma Record
10
Appendix 5 - Administering asthma Inhaler Record
11
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
Page 1 of 14
Mission Statement
Life is an adventure, embrace it
Life is a challenge, meet it
Life is an opportunity, capture it.
Aim
Most children will at some time have short term medical needs, perhaps entailing finishing
a course of medicine such as antibiotics. Some children however have longer term medical
needs and may require medicines to keep them well, for example children with wellcontrolled epilepsy or cystic fibrosis.
Tackley School is committed to ensuring that children may return to school as soon as
possible after an illness (subject to the health and safety of the school community) and that
children with chronic health needs are supported at school.
This policy sets out clearly a sound basis for ensuring that children with medical needs
receive proper care and support in school.
This policy aims to:
 support regular attendance of all children
 ensure staff understand their role and responsibility in administering medicines
 make clear to parents the school policy on administering medicines
 ensure medicines are stored and administered safely.
The successful implementation of this policy is dependent upon a rigorous home-school
partnership which is essential for the health and safety of all concerned.
1. Legal Requirements
1.1. There is no legal or contractual duty on staff to administer medicine or supervise a
child taking it.
1.2. Support staff may have specific duties to provide medical assistance as part of
their contract.
1.3. Anyone caring for children including teachers and all non-teaching staff have a
common law duty of care to act like any reasonable prudent parent. Staff need to
make sure children are healthy and safe.
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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1.4. In exceptional circumstances the duty of care could extend to administering
medicine and/or taking action in an emergency. This duty also extends to staff
leading activities taking place off site such as visits, outings or field trips.
2. Prescribed Medication
2.1.
Medicines should only be brought to school when essential, where it would be
detrimental to the child’s health if the medicine were not administered during
the school day.
2.2.
All medicines must be delivered to the class teacher by the parent or carer.
Teaching assistants should not take receipt of any medicines in the classroom.
2.3.
All medication must be in the original container with the pharmacist’s label
which includes the following information:
a) The child’s name
b) The name and strength of the medication
c) The dosage and time/frequency of administration, accompanied by a
dosage spoon
d) The expiry date of the medication.
2.4.
In the case of long-term medication a care plan will be required, see No. 8
Individual Health Care Plans - IHCPs.
2.5.
The medicine must be clearly marked with the child’s name and class.
2.6.
In no circumstances should medicines be left in a child’s possession.
2.7.
Medicines will only be accepted for administration in school on completion of
the ‘Parental Agreement to Administer Medicine Record’ by a parent or carer
and signed by the Headteacher.
2.8.
An agreement form must be completed each time there is a request for
medication to be administered or there are changes to medication or
administration instructions.
2.9.
When any medication is administered, it must be recorded on the back of the
Parental Agreement to Administer Medicine Record, stating the time and dose
given.
2.10. If in doubt about any procedure, staff should not administer medicines but
check with the parents or a health professional before taking further action.
2.11. Reasons for not administering prescribed medicine, including if a child refuses,
must be recorded on the administration record and parents informed
immediately or as soon as reasonably possible.
2.12. Pupils with complex medical needs will require an Individual Health Care Plan.
2.13. All medical information must be kept confidential.
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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Prescribed medicine will not be given:
a. Where the timing of the dose is vital and where mistakes could lead to
serious consequences
b. Where medical or technical expertise is required
c. Where intimate contact would be necessary.
In these circumstances, parents will be expected to administer the medication.
3. Non-prescription Medication
3.1.
Non-prescription medicines such as (liquid) paracetamol, ibuprofen, painkillers
and cough medicines must not be administered in school.
3.2.
In extenuating circumstances the school may consider administration of nonprescription medicine. For example where pain relief is needed following a
fractured limb or a clinical procedure. Written advice from parents detailing the
reason for medication, dose and durate must be provided for the school to
proceed.
3.3.
We do not allow cough sweets in school.
4. Asthma
4.1.
Children with asthma need to have immediate access to their reliever inhalers
when they need them.
4.2.
Inhalers should be readily available and kept in the PPA room in a medical box
with the child’s photograph and name clearly visible.
4.3.
All medical boxes and inhalers must be clearly labelled and include guidelines on
administration.
4.4.
All administration of an inhaler should be logged on the Administering Asthma
Inhaler Record sheet kept in the medical box and signed by an adult (see
appendix). All original forms must be kept in the Medicines folder in the
Headteacher’s office.
4.5.
It is the responsibility of the parents to regularly check the condition of inhalers
and ensure that they are working and have not been completely discharged.
5. Safety Management
5.1.
All medicines may be harmful to anyone for whom they are not appropriate.
5.2.
All medicines must be stored in accordance with product instructions (paying
particular attention to temperature) in the PPA room next to the first aid box or
in the staff room fridge. Children should know where their medicine is stored
and who has agreed to administer it.
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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5.3.
Medicines for use in an emergency e.g. Epi-pens, asthma inhalers and anticonvulsants must be stored in the supplied container in a school medicines box
with the child’s photograph and name clearly visible, with all dosage,
administration records and medical details.
6. Disposal of Medicines
6.1.
Staff should not dispose of medicines.
6.2.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that medicines that have passed the expiry
date are returned to the pharmacy for safe disposal.
6.3.
Parents must collect all medicines at the end of the agreed administration
period.
7. Parents’ Responsibility
7.1.
Parents must give sufficient information about their child’s medical needs if
treatment or special care is required.
7.2.
Parents must deliver all medicines to the class teacher in person and complete
and sign the parental agreement form.
7.3.
Where it is practicable, parents should administer medicines to their child
during school hours.
7.4.
Older children may be able to manage their own medication, under adult
supervision, but only with parental agreement on completion of the appropriate
forms.
7.5.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication kept in school e.g.
asthma inhalers and Epi-pens, are kept up to date.
7.6.
Parents are responsible for notifying the school if there is a change in
circumstances e.g. if symptoms change, or a child is no longer asthmatic.
8. Individual Health Care Plans – IHCPs
8.1.
A health care plan may reveal the need for some staff to have further
information about a medical condition or specific training in administering a
particular type of medicine or in dealing with emergencies eg administering an
Epi-pen. Staff should not give medicines without appropriate training from
health professionals.
8.2.
Children with an IHCP will have their plan reviewed at least three times a year
and / or following any changes in medication, dosage, etc.
9. Managing Medicines on School Trips
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
Page 5 of 14
9.1.
It is the responsibility of the class teacher to take the class permission forms
with emergency contacts and medical details on every school trip.
9.2.
The class teacher must ensure any medication provided by parents is taken on
the school trip and administration logged on the record sheet.
9.3.
For details regarding medication on a residential trip, refer to the Educational
Visits Policy.
10. Emergencies
Where a child requires a serious level of care, including hospital:
10.1. The parents must be informed immediately.
10.2. If the parent is not available, the nominated emergency contact for the child
should be informed.
10.3. Staff must never take children to hospital in their own car; it is safer to call an
ambulance.
10.4. Where necessary, a member of staff will accompany the child until such time as
a parent arrives.
10.5. The staff member should provide any vital information about the injury / illness
and the child’s medical background to pass on to the nurse / doctor.
11. Role of the Headteacher and Governing Body
The Headteacher and governors must:
11.1. Ensure that there is an appropriate number of trained first aiders on site at all
times.
11.2. Train as many staff as possible in emergency first aid and keep this up to date.
11.3. If the administration of any medicine requires technical or medical knowledge,
then individual, child specific training must be provided for staff from a qualified
health professional.
12. Monitoring and Review
12.1. The Pupil, Partnership, Community and SIAS Committee will implement and
review this policy in light of our Christian values and ethos every 3 years.
12.2. The Governor responsible for Health and Safety will monitor the effectiveness of
current procedures and that all records are up to date.
13. Relevant Policies and Documentation
This policy should be read in conjunction with these documents:

Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Setting

Safeguarding Pupils Policy and associated documents
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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
Educational Visits Policy
Tackley School - Parental Agreement to Administer Medicine
Tackley follows Oxfordshire County Guidelines and will not administer non-prescribed medicines.
Staff will not give your child prescribed medicine unless you complete and sign this form.
Name of child
Class/year group
Teacher
Medical condition or illness
Medicine
Name/type of medicine
(as described on the container)
Date dispensed
Expiry date
Dosage and method
Timing
Number of days
Special precautions
Side effects
Self-administration
Yes
No
Procedure to take in an emergency
Contact details
Name
Daytime telephone number
Relationship to child
Address
Parent/Carer
I accept that this is a service that Tackley School is not obliged to undertake.
I understand that I must notify the School of any changes in writing.
Signature
Teacher
I understand that I must administer the medication listed above.
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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Signature
Headteacher’s signature
Administering Prescribed Medicine Record
Name of child
Class
Name of teacher administering medication
Name of medication
Original packaging
Date
Time
Pharmacist label (including child’s name, date, dosage)
Dosage
Notes
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
Signature
Page 8 of 14
Dear Parent/Carer
RE: Asthma Records
Many children have asthma and research suggests that numbers are increasing. Our
recently updated medical records show that you have identified your child as suffering
from asthma. Your child spends over a third of their waking hours at school, so it is
important that their daily health needs are acknowledged.
As part of accepted good practice, we are now asking all parents of pupils with asthma to
help us to complete a school Asthma Record for their child. We acknowledge that
everyone’s asthma is different and an accurate and detailed record will help school staff
to ensure that pupils with asthma receive the best possible treatment at all times.
You will be asked to update the record yearly, but please inform the school in writing if
treatment is changed before this time so that our records can be kept up to date.
As a matter of urgency, we also ask that you provide the school with a spare inhaler
which is in date and labeled by the pharmacist with your child’s name and dosage details.
This will be kept in school in a labeled box in case of emergency. It is your responsibility
to ensure that the medication does not pass the expiry date.
I look forward to receiving the completed Asthma Record. At Tackley School we take our
responsibility for pupils with asthma very seriously.
Thank you for your co-operation in this important matter. For the full details of the
Administering Medicines policy, see the school website. Please return your completed
form to the school office as soon as possible. If you have any further concerns, please do
not hesitate to contact me at the end of the school day.
Yours sincerely
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
Page 9 of 14
Mrs J. Chalmers
Headteacher
Asthma Record
Child’s full name
Year group
My child’s details and contact numbers
Date of Birth
Parent(s) name(s)
Telephone:
Home
Work
Mobile
Doctor (GP) name
Doctor (GP) telephone
Asthma nurse (if applicable)
Symptoms and triggers typical to my child
Known triggers/allergies
List of symptoms typical to child
Any other medical problems?
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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My Child’s Medication
Reliever medication (usually blue)
Medication name
How taken/device
Dose
When taken
(e.g. SALBUTAMOL)
(e.g. 1 blister)
(e.g. when wheezy,
before exercise)
(e.g. disk-inhaler)
Other Medication
1.1.
Most preventers can be taken outside of school hours – check with your GP or asthma nurse
Dose
When taken
How taken/device
Medication name
My child requires an inhaler in school at all times
YES *
NO
* If you have ticked Yes, parents are responsible for ensuring that the school has an
inhaler which remains in school at all times. (Please note, for those children who travel
on the bus, it is the parents responsibility to ensure that their child has access to an
inhaler)
Emergency Treatment
In the event of severe asthma, my doctor has advised that my child can take up to
puffs of their reliever (usually Salbutamol) inhaler via a spacer (if applicable) until they get
further medical help.
Signed: (Parent)
Date
Important key points for parents to remember
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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This record is for school. Remember to update it if treatment is changed.
Remember to check you provide your child with enough inhaler doses and
that the inhaler is in date and labeled by the pharmacist with your child’s
name and dosage details.
Administering Asthma Inhaler Record
Name of child
Class
Name of teacher administering medication
Name of medication
Original packaging
Date
Time
Pharmacist label (including child’s name, date, dosage)
Dose
Outcome / Observation
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
Signature
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Tackley CE Primary School
Administering Medicine
Policy
Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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Administering Medicines Policy 2012
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