STEWKLEYCYGNETSPRE-SCHOOLPOLICY
ON MANAGING MEDICINES

Introductory statement

Our Pre-school must have regard to the DfE Code of Practice and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) code of practice on special needs and also to the guidelines supplied to private and voluntary providers of pre-school education. We must provide a welcome and promote the good health of children attending the settingand provide appropriate learning opportunities for all children. This is in line with the legislation of the Children’s and Family’s Act 2014 and the Equality Act 2010.

Management Committee Responsibilities

The Committee will ensure that arrangements are in place to support pupils with medical conditions. In doing so they should ensure that such children can access and enjoy the same opportunities at school as any other child.

In making their arrangements, the Committee will take into account that many of the medical conditions that require support at school will affect quality of life and may be life-threatening. Some will be more obvious than others. The Committee will ensure that the focus is on the needs of each individual child and how their medical condition impacts on their school life.

8. The Committee should ensure that arrangements give parents and pupils confidence in the school’s ability to provide effective support for medical conditions in school. The arrangements should show an understanding of how medical conditions impact on a child’s ability to learn, as well as increase their confidence and promote self-care. They should ensure that practitioners are properly trained to provide the support that pupils need.

Children and young people with medical conditions are entitled to a full education and have the same rights of admission to school as other children. This means that no child with a medical condition should be denied admission7 or prevented from taking up a place in school because arrangements for their medical condition have not been made.

However, in line with their safeguarding duties, the Committee should ensure that pupils’ health is not put at unnecessary risk from, for example, infectious diseases. They therefore do not have to accept a child in school at times where it would be detrimental to the health of that child or others to do so.

The Committee will ensure that the arrangements in place are sufficient to meet statutory responsibilities and will ensure that policies, plans, procedures and systems are properly and effectively implemented. This aligns with their wider safeguarding duties.

Parent Responsibilities

“Parents have the prime responsibility for their child’s health and should provide schools and settings with information about their child’s medical conditionand if necessary, training(Ofsted, 080290, 2013: P3)”(P13 Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings, DfES 2005)

At StewkleyCygnetsPre-School we rely on parents to keep us informed about any medical condition or treatment that their child receives. Any treatment needing to be undertaken, during a session (whether regularly or in the event of an emergency) must be discussed with the setting head and the child’s key person. A health care plan must be completed and if medication needs to be administered a parental consent form signed.The parent or another nominated adult should be contactable at all times.

Confidentiality

At StewkleyCygnetsPre-School we respect the child’s right for confidentiality and information will be shared with relevant staff members after discussion with parents about who needs to be informed.

Staff responsibilities

Shelagh Gallacher and assigned first aider are the designated members of staff who will administer prescribed medication to children. When appropriate they will access relevant training from a health care professional.

Shelagh Gallacher is responsible for ensuring:

  • Procedures are followed when the Pre-school is notified of a medical condition which includes seeking support from other agencies if necessary.
  • Training needs are assessed and sufficient staff are trained using Bucks CC as a training provider.
  • An annual awareness training for asthma, allergy (epi pen) and epilepsy takes place
  • That there are cover arrangements in place
  • Monitor all Healthcare Plans.
  • Transitional arrangements

Administration of Medication

Medication will only be administered if it is essential (i.e. ‘that it would be detrimental to the child’s health if the medicine were not administered during the setting day.’ (P13 ManagingMedicines in Schools and Early Years Settings, DfES 2005))Wherever possible, dosages of medicine should be worked out so that they can be taken outside of the pre-school sessions.

At Stewkley Cygnets Pre-School we will only administer medicine that has a written prescription for a named child by a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist unless agreed by the pre-school manager (Ofsted factsheet no 080290 January 2013 states –‘When we use the word prescribe we mean medicine that is recommended. When we use the word prescription we mean written instructions from a doctor or dentist’. Therefore you can give medicine that is recommended by a pharmacist or nurse without a written prescription).

All medicine should be:

In its original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include the prescriber’s instructions for administration.Medicine not in its original packaging cannot be administered.

  • Brought to the setting by parents daily (collecting the medicine at the end of the session is the parent’s responsibility) or a supply of medication provided specifically for use at pre-school.
  • Provided in small quantities.

Non-prescription medicine canbe administered but only with the consent of the pre-school manager. No medicines can be administered without prior written consent from the child’s parents.

*Parents whose child regularly takes non prescription medicine are encouraged to discuss with their GP, whether it is appropriate for the medicine to be prescribed.

Before administering medicine to a child the member of staff will check:

The child’s name

Prescribed dose

Expiry date

Written instructions provided by the prescriber on the label or container

Records
Records will be kept of all medication brought to the setting and when medication is administered this will also be recorded in the medicine file and signed by the parents.

Refusal

If a child refuses to take their medication, staff will not compel them to do so. They will record in the child’s record the refusal and any surrounding circumstances and will inform the parents as soon as possible and at the end of the session at the latest.

Medicine Storage

All medicines must be stored in a locked accessible cupboard or in the staff fridge in an airtight box, if they need refrigeration. Emergency medicine that needs to be on hand at all occasions (e.g. inhalers and epi-pens) will be placed in a box on top of the main store cupboard, out of reach of children but readily available.

Medicine File

The medicine file will contain:

  • A record of all medicines on site and their location.
  • Copies of parent consent forms..
  • Records of administration of medicines to individual children.
  • Copies of children’s health care plans will be pinned to the wall in the kitchen.

Emergency procedures

Actions to be taken in an emergency and what constitutes an emergency for a particular child are contained in the child’s health care plan. Two members of staff will be named in the plan to be responsible lead people in an emergency, but all staff where appropriate will have read and discussed the emergency procedures so that they are able to support the named members of staff. Copies of the emergency procedures will be readily available for consultation in the event of an emergency.

Trips and Outings

Before a trip is undertaken an additional risk assessment will be carried out in relation to children with medical needs. Steps will be taken to minimise risks and to ensure that all children can be included on the trip.

Medicine, for children who may require it on the trip, will be carried by the member of staff allocated to that child for the trip (usually the key person) or by the child’s parent if they are attending the trip.

If it is thought that additional staffing is necessary to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the trip by everyone, this will be put into place.

Copies of emergency procedures will be taken on the trip along with relevant contact numbers.Adults supervising children with medical needs and the trip leader will carry mobile phones.

Practitioners must not be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance which might affect their ability to care for children. If practitioners are taking medication which may affect their ability to care for children, those practitioners must seek medical advice. The Registered Body must ensure that those practitioners only work directly with children if medical advice confirms that the medication is unlikely to impair that staff members ability to look after children properly. Staff medication on the premises must be securely stored and out of reach of children, at all times.

Should parents or pupils be dissatisfied with the support provided they should discuss their concerns directly with the pre-school. If for whatever reason this does not resolve the issue, they may make a formal complaint via the pre-school’s complaints procedure. Making a formal complaint to the Department for Education should only occur if it comes within scope of section 496/497 of the Education Act 1996 and after other attempts at resolution have been exhausted.

This policy was adopted by the committee on:……………………………………………

Signed:…………………………………….………