Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
MEDICINES IN SCHOOL
Two main considerations –
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Job descriptions of certain categories of support staff provide for the
administration of prescribed medicines to be undertaken.
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Teachers cannot be required to administer medicines.
There is no requirement on teachers to administer medicines but where they
volunteer to do so these guidelines will be helpful. St. John’s school discourages
the use of non-prescribed medicines (i.e. cough medicines).
Good Practice
Where medicines are to be administered in school, it is important that a written
instruction should be received from the parent or doctor. This should specify
the medication involved, circumstances under which it should be administered,
frequency and level of dosage. Use form Appendix 1.
A standard practice should be followed when administering medicines –
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Refer to the written instructions received by the school
Check the prescribed dose
Check expiry date
Check the prescribed frequency of the medicine
Measure out the prescribed dose; check the child’s name again. Best
practice to be witnessed by another adult – (e.g. admin or class teacher).
Complete and sign a record card when a child has taken/been given the
medicine – Appendix 2. Best practice to be witnessed by second adult.
If uncertain, do not give but check with the child’s parent or doctor.
It is the responsibility of the Admin staff to ensure medicines are stored
appropriately.
Medicines likely to be brought into or used at school Prescribed medicines (examples given below), Office staff to administer
medicines.

Antibiotics
A child taking antibiotics can recover quickly and be well enough to
attend school but it is essential that the course of treatment is
completed – (follow above procedures)
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Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School

Inhalers
A child with asthma may have an inhaler, which may need to be used
regularly or before exercise, or when the child becomes wheezy. All
inhalers are labelled individually and stored in the medical cupboard in
the medical room. The medical profession has confirmed that inhalers
are very safe and it is unlikely that a child using another child’s inhaler
will come to any harm. A separate register is held with the inhalers to
log any medication given.

Enzyme additives
A child with cystic fibrosis may not be able to digest food without added
enzymes. It is important that the child has a pancreatic supplement
(normally Creon) with food. This is not a drug and many children need
several capsules at a time. These are entirely safe if taken accidentally
by another child
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Maintenance drugs
A child may be on medication (e.g. insulin, ritalin) for a condition that
requires a dose during the school day.
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Epipen
All staff are trained on how to administer the epipen’s. Epipen’s are kept
in the school office.
Conditions requiring emergency action
As a matter of routine, all schools must have a clear procedure for summoning an
ambulance in an emergency. However, some life-threatening conditions may
require immediate treatment. Some staff may volunteer to stand by to
administer the medicine prescribed and if they do so they must receive
professional training and guidance via the School Health Service. Medicines for
these purposes should only be held where an individual protocol for the child
concerned has been written up for the school by a doctor. Examples of these
conditions follow but will be more fully explained during training and in the
protocol. The full indemnity provisions referred to earlier apply in these
emergency situations.

Acute allergy to bee stings and nuts etc
A very small number of people are particularly sensitive to bee stings or
nuts and require an immediate injection of adrenalin or an immediate
inhalation of adrenalin to save life (depending on individual medical
prescription).
Last Reviewed
September 2014
To be Reviewed
September 2015
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Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
Appendix 1
Administration of Medicines & Treatment Consent Form
Name of School
Name of Child
Address of Child
Parents’ Home Telephone No.
Parents’ Mobile Telephone No.
Name of GP
GP’s Telephone No.
Please tick the appropriate box
My child will be responsible for the self-administration of medicines as directed below
I agree to members of staff administering medicines/providing treatment to my child as
directed below or in the case of emergency, as staff may consider necessary
I recognise that school staff are not medically trained
Signature of parent or carer
Date of signature
Name of Medicine
Required Dose
Special Instructions
Allergies
Other Prescribed Medicines
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Frequency
Course Finish
Medicine
Expiry
Rowlands Castle, St. John’s CEC Primary School
Appendix 2
Record of Prescribed Medicines Given to a Child in School
Name of School/Setting
Name of Child
Group/Class/Form of Child
Date of Birth of Child
No.
Date
Time
Medicine Given
Dose
Signature
Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by Witnessed by -
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