Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy
Rationale
The Children and Families Act 2014, from September 2014, places a duty on schools to make
arrangements for children with medical conditions. Pupils with special medical needs have the same
right of admission to school as other children and cannot be refused admission or excluded from school
on medical grounds alone. However, teachers and other school staff in charge of pupils have a common
law duty to act in loco parentis and may need to take swift action in an emergency. This duty also
extends to teachers leading activities taking place off the school site. This could extend to a need to
administer medicine.
It is the overall policy of St James Primary School to minimise the risks to pupils as a result of the
administration of medicines and to ensure there are appropriate measures in place regarding
 the safe storage of medicines,
 support for pupils and staff
 staff training.
To promote this aim we work with parents and health professionals to agree procedures for the
administration of medicines when necessary and reasonably practical.
This policy sets out the arrangements we follow in order to maximise inclusion for pupils with medical
needs in as full a range of educational opportunities as possible, and is in line with the Department for
Education’s Statutory Guidance September 2014 for Supporting Pupils at School with Medical
Conditions.
Definition
Pupils’ medical needs may be broadly summarised as being of two types:
(a) Short-term affecting their participation in school activities which they are on a course of medication.
(b) Long-term potentially limiting their access to education and requiring extra care and support
(deemed special medical needs).
Aims
The school aims to:
 assist parents in providing medical care for their children
 educate staff and children in respect of medical needs
 support parents and children in training children to self-administer medication if this is
practicable
 arrange training for staff to support pupils with medical needs
 liaise as necessary with medical services in support of the individual pupil
 ensure access to full education if possible
 monitor and keep appropriate records
 provide opportunities for parents to update staff on any changes to their child’s medical needs
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015
The school accepts all employees have rights in relation to supporting pupils with medical needs. There
is no statutory or contractual duty for staff to administer medicines. Consequently, we secure the
services of volunteers from our existing staff team.
Procedures for storing and administering medicine in school
Prescribed Medicines (e.g. antibiotics)
Medicines should only be administered by staff in school when essential; that is where it would be
detrimental to a child’s health if the medicine were not to be administered during the school day.
All medicines should be brought into the school office by parents where they will be stored safely and
appropriately.
Prescribed Medicines (Chronic illnesses e.g. asthma)
In cases of chronic medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes, pupils are encouraged to keep their
medication with them throughout the school day, so they have access to it when needed and can selfmedicate if age appropriate. Where it is not appropriate for pupils to take responsibility for their own
medication, the medication will be stored in class and taken by a supporting adult to all activities, so
that it is always easily accessible. In all cases, parents will provide spare medication which will be stored
in the office.
For all prescribed medicines parents must complete a recognised ‘Parental Agreement for School to
Administer Medicine’ form (Appendix 1).
Medicines must be provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include the
prescriber’s instructions. This will include:
 Name of child
 Name of medicine
 Dose (in some conditions this may vary on a daily basis).
 Method of administration
 Time/frequency of administration
 Any side effects
 Expiry date
Non-prescribed Medicines
Over the counter medicines are not kept by the school and staff are not permitted to administer any
medication to pupils that has not been prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner.
In the case of educational visits, where children are off site, paracetamol based painkillers are carried as
part of the first aid kit. This type of medication will only be administered if absolutely necessary and
only with prior, written parental consent. For all educational visits, risk assessments for individual
children with medical needs will be undertaken and actioned appropriately so that children can
participate in this type of activity.
Staff Training
 The SENDCo is the person responsible for liaising with external medical agencies to ensure that
volunteer staff are appropriately trained to support a child with a specific medical need.
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015
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A member of the admin team is involved in all training for children with a medical need and will
be drawn upon in the case of staff absences to ensure that someone is always available.
All staff will receive general first aid training annually, including use of Epipen and asthma
inhalers. There are seven members of staff who are accredited with First Aid training.
All school staff will be made aware of a child’s medical needs and will know procedures to follow
if they have any concern regarding children’s medical needs.
In the case of supply teachers the SENDCo will be responsible for briefing them as appropriate.
Individual Health Care Plans
The SENDCo is responsible for Individual Healthcare Plans (IHCPs). IHCPs will be prepared for pupils
with medical conditions to provide clarity about what needs to be done, when and by whom. IHCPs are
helpful where medical conditions are long-term and complex. Parents, child, health care professionals
and school will work in partnership to create an appropriate and manageable IHCP. The IHCP will be
regularly reviewed and changes made as appropriate. Once an IHCP has been drawn up it will be kept
in the pupil’s individual record file. A copy will be given to relevant staff, including the class teacher,
admin officer/first aider and parents. The IHCP will be reviewed annually or earlier if needs arise.
(Example of IHCP - Appendix 4).
Record keeping
Medical needs will be recorded on the schools Management Information System (SIMS) on entry to
school or when a medical condition becomes known to staff. Teachers will receive a class list at the
beginning of each school year with medical information for their class. This will be updated whenever a
new child joins the class and/or new condition is added.
If a child has been prescribed a medicine that will need to be administered in school then the parent
must complete the form headed Parental Agreement for School to Administer Medicine. (Appendix 1)
Once this has been received and agreed by the Head teacher, the parent will receive a confirmation
letter from the Headteacher agreeing to administer the prescribed medicine. (Appendix 2)
Medicine that has been administered by school staff will be recorded using an appropriate recording
sheet. (Appendix 3)
Appendices
Parental Agreement For School to Administer Medicine (Appendix 1)
Head Teacher Agreement (Appendix 2)
Record of Medicines Administered (Appendix 3)
Individual Healthcare Plan (Appendix 4)
Review
The Governors are responsible for monitoring the implementation of this policy. The policy will be
reviewed annually by the Governing Body.
Updated November 2015
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015
Appendix 1
Parental Agreement for Schools to Administer Medicine
Please ask for a copy of our medicine policy. We will not give your child medicine unless you
complete and sign this form.
Name of Child
Date of Birth
Class/Year group
Medical Condition
Condition
Name/type of Medicine
Date dispensed
Expiry date
Agreed review date
Dosage and method
Time
Special precautions
Possible side effects
Emergency procedures
Contact details
Name
Daytime telephone
Relationship to pupil
Address
Medicines will be delivered to Mrs
Taylor/Mrs Hignett at reception
I accept that this is a service that the school is not obliged to undertake. I understand that I must
notify the school of any changes in writing.
Name:________________________________
Date:………./………./………….
Signature:_____________________________
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015
Appendix 2
Headteacher Agreement to Administer Medicine
It is agreed that ________________________will receive ___________________
everyday at ____________________________
______________________________ will be given/supervised whilst he/she takes
their medication by (Named member of staff).
This agreement will continue until (either date course of treatment ends or until
instructed by parents).
Date ………./………./……….
Signed …………………………………………………………… Headteacher
Signed …………………………………………………………… Mrs Taylor/Mrs Hignett
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015
Appendix 3
Record of Medicines Administered to _____________________________________________________________
Medicine:
Date
Time
Dose
Any reaction
Print Name
Signature
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015
Appendix 4
Individual Healthcare Plan
Name of Child
Date of Birth
Class/Year group
Medical Condition
Triggers, signs and symptoms
Medication needs (dose, storage)
Are other treatments/actions
needed?
(E.g. time, facilities, equipment,
testing, access to food and drink
where this is used to manage their
condition, dietary requirements
and environmental issues e.g.
crowded corridors, travel time
between lessons)
What level of support is needed?
(Some children will be able to take
responsibility for their own health
needs, including emergencies. If a
child is self-managing their
medication, this should be clearly
stated with appropriate
arrangements for monitoring).
Has written permission been
provided by parents for the
administration of medication by
staff or self-administered by the
pupil during school hours?
What to do in an emergency.
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015
Appendix 4
Individual Healthcare Plan (cont’d)
Specific support for the pupil’s
educational, social and emotional
needs.
(E.g. how absences will be
managed, requirements for extra
time to complete exams, use of rest
periods or additional support in
catching up with lessons,
counselling sessions).
Who will provide this support?
(Identify their training needs,
expectations of their role and
confirmation of proficiency to
provide support for the child’s
medical condition from a
healthcare professional; and cover
arrangements for when they are
unavailable).
St James CE Primary School – Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs November 2015