Drugs Policy

Policy date:February 2012 Review date:February 2015

Reviewed by BHS Committee

Definition of Terms

Drug:This refers to any psychotropic substance: all legal drugs including alcohol and tobacco, all illegal drugs, volatile substances, and over the counter and prescription medicines.

Drug use: The consumption of any drug. All drug use, including medicinal use, carries the potential for harm.

Drug misuse: Drug taking through which harm may occur: (i) through intoxication, (ii) leading to the possibility of future health problems, or through breach of school rules or the law.

Drug abuse: Drug taking which harms health or functioning. It may be part of a wider spectrum of problematic or harmful behaviour.

Policy Rationale

Drug use and misuse have become increasingly common in our society. Children and young people of school age are part of society and as such the school recognises the need to:

(a)prepare and equip pupils for life in a drug using society;

(b)deal with the broad range of drug related situations and incidents which may occur in the lives of our pupils and others involved in the life of the school.

Aims of Drug Education

The overall aim of drug education in the school is to equip pupils with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable them to be in a position to make informed, healthy choices and decisions, and to prevent or reduce the harmful consequences of drug misuse.

Objectives

  • To provide accurate information about drugs and the law relating to them.
  • To increase understanding about the implications and possible consequences of use and misuse of drugs.
  • To provide opportunities to examine attitudes towards drug use.
  • To promote the development of personal and social skills relating to healthy behaviour and the opportunity to practise them.
  • To enable young people to identify sources of appropriate personal support.

Teaching of Drug Education

The teaching of Drug Education is mainly through the PSHE curriculum (see Appendix 1 of this policy). Elements of Drug Education are also taught through the Science curriculum.

The school also acknowledges that a positive, health promotion ethos helps in delivering Drug Education throughout the school.

Other agencies (e.g. Police school liaison officer) also play a key role in Drug Education.

Monitoring & Evaluation of Drug Education

This is the responsibility of the PSHE co-ordinator, in liaison with the SLT.

The Science leader will also monitor and evaluate the science aspects of Drug

Education.

The Governors Curriculum committee will monitor and evaluate Drug Education through their planned Curriculum Review & Monitoring programme, particularly when evaluating the PSHE curriculum.

Involvement of Parents/Carers

The school believes that it is important to have the support of parents and the wider community for the drug education programme. Parents are welcome to discuss with the class teacher the work to be covered in their child’s class with respect to drug education.

Legally Available Substances On Site

Tobacco

The school operates a no smoking policy at all times throughout the building and the grounds. This policy applies to pupils, employees, parents and visitors.

Alcohol

The consumption of alcohol during the working day is prohibited for all members of the school community. The only exceptions to this are INSET/Staff training days.

The head teacher must be consulted and permission obtained before arranging any functions at which alcohol may consumed.

As a rule, alcohol should not be consumed at any function where pupils are present but this is left to the careful discretion of the head teacher for each event.

Solvents

The school recognises that many ordinary substances lend themselves to misuse and therefore need to be carefully stored and managed. The correct usage of whiteboard markers should be made clear to the pupils, and they should be kept in a safe place appropriate to the age and behaviour of the class.

Pupils may not use correcting fluid or aerosol sprays in the school. Correcting fluids and aerosol sprays can be used by the teacher or LSA in school, but they should be stored securely.

Medication: over the counter and prescribed drugs

Where it is not possible for parents to administer medicines to their children themselves during school hours, parents should hand the medication into the school office and complete the ‘Administration of medicines/treatment (form of consent)’, leaving it with the office staff. (See Administration of Medicines policy). Unused medicines not collected by parents will be disposed of at the end of each term.

All medication should be administered from the school office (with the exception of inhalers and throat lozenges). Some children require types of treatment which school staff may feel reluctant for personal or other reasons to provide. For example, injections or assistance with catheters. Staff are not obliged to administer medication to pupils. However, specially appointed staff may be available to carry out these tasks. Where they are not available, other school staff may volunteer to undertake the tasks. In all cases professional training and guidance via the health service will be obtained before the school accepts the commitment.

Asthma reliever inhalers are kept close to the pupil for easy and immediate access. The inhaler will be stored by the teacher, office or pupil, depending on the age and maturity of the pupil, severity of condition and advice of a medical practitioner. All inhalers should be marked clearly with the pupil’s name.

Epipensare stored in the staff room. All staff receive training in how to administer the epipen dose. Names and photographs of children at risk from an anaphylactic shock are posted in the staff room.

Calpol/paracetamol is only administered to pupils if written (or, on rare occasions, verbal) permission has been granted by the pupils parents/carers.

Legally Available Substances On School Excursions

The school’s policy on drugs applies to all school excursions.

It is perfectly reasonable for staff and accompanying adults on residential trips to enjoy, for example, a glass of wine in the evening once the children are settled into their rooms. It is however not acceptable for staff and accompanying adults to drink to excess on such occasions. At least one designated member of staff should refrain from imbibing alcohol each evening. Of course, the use of alcohol must also be in line with the drugs policy of the residential centre in question.

If an accompanying adult or teacher is unable to refrain from smoking, they should smoke out of sight of the pupils and in line with the smoking policy of the establishment being visited.

If parents feel that their child may need over the counter medication (e.g. Calpol), they should complete a consent form and supply their own medication. Parents should provide either small bottles or sachets of medication as required for that one day.

Responding To Drug Related Incidents in the School

Incidents could include:

  • intoxication;
  • possession of legal drugs such as cigarettes or solvents, and inappropriate medication;
  • possession of illegal substances.

Appendix 2 illustrates a suggested referral procedure.

Intoxication

If child is collapsed or unconscious, notify the office so they can call for an ambulance. Then send for a first aider who will provide emergency first aid as appropriate (e.g. recovery position).

OR

If child is conscious and in no health danger they should be removed to a quiet room (e.g. Head teachers office), accompanied by a member of staff. In both of these cases,

  • If the substance is at hand, retain it in case it is needed by medical staff.
  • Notify Head teacher.
  • Notify child’s parents. In a non-emergency situation they will be asked to collect their child and advised to visit their GP.
  • The situation will be investigated by the school and a written record made.
  • Governing body to be informed.
  • Contact with outside agencies (e.g. police, Education Welfare Officer, Social Services) will be made at the discretion of the Head.

Possession of legal / illegal drugs

  • Notify Head teacher, who will seek to remove any suspicious substance (in the presence of an adult witness). Any substance removed should be sealed in a labelled plastic bag which is then signed by the witness, with the date and time also recorded.
  • Notify child’s parents and police (if the substance is illegal) who will be asked to attend the school.
  • If substance is illegal the child will be excluded (time to be decided by the Head).
  • The situation will be investigated by the school and a written record made.
  • Governing body to be informed.

Our Position on Substance Abusing Parents

The school recognises that some of its pupils may have a parent whose drug use (legal and/or illegal) is problematic. The pupil’s welfare in this case is paramount and the school will act, within the legal limits that it can, to support the pupil in a variety of ways, practically and emotionally. Key staff involved in such support have received guidance in this area. If a member of staff has any concerns regarding the welfare of a pupil of the school they should inform the CPLO (Child Protection Liaison Officer – the Head teacher).

This policy should be read in conjunction with all other policies, in particular Single Equality Scheme, Teaching, Learning, PSHE, Science, Governors’ Monitoring, Health & Safety, First Aid, Safeguarding, Child Protection and Administration of Medicine.

~ / ~

Appendices

Appendix 1-Drug Education Skills / Knowledge & Understanding in the PSHE Curriculum

Appendix 2 - Diagram of Referral Procedures

Appendix 1

Drug Education Skills / Knowledge & Understanding in the PSHE Curriculum

(source DfEE “Drug Education: Curriculum Guidance for Schools”, 1995)

PSHE Topics / Being healthy and safe ; My special people / Being involved ; My special people / Me – a special person ; Being involved / Being healthy and safe / Me – a special person ; Growing and changing / (covered in all topics) / My special people ; People who help / Being healthy and safe ; / Being involved ; Me - a special person / Me – a special person ; Being healthy and safe ; Gr. and ch. / Me- a special person ; Being healthy and safe / Me- a special person ; Being healthy and safe / Being healthy and safe ; People who help / People who help ; My special people
Foundation Key Stage : Skills / Pupils should: / -be able to decide what to do when things go wrong and when to seek help / -begin to develop decision-making skills: anticipating consequences / -co-operate and share with others in activities and play / -consider personal safety, recognise potential dangers, groundrules for keeping safe / -identify feelings and emotions with appropriate vocabulary / -be able to take turns in conversations and listen to others / -begin to develop positive relationships, based on trust, with peers and practitioners / -make choices and begin to develop independence and self-reliance / -follow simple safety instructions about equipment / Foundation Key Stage : Knowledge & Understanding / -know the basic ways in which the body needs to be looked after (food, water, rest,exercise, cleaning) / -know that some equipment/resources can be harmful if used inappropriately/without supervision / -know that electrical equipment, matches, hot water, medicines, cleaning products can be dangerous / and should not be touched / -know that there are people who help us look after our bodies (dentist, health visitor, nurse, doctor) / -know key people we can trust to help us / -
PSHE Topics / Y1 Caring for Myself ; Y2 Taking Charge / Y2 Taking Charge / Y1 W. Well Tog ; Y1 Caring for Oth ; Y2 T. Charge / Y1 Caring for M ; Y1 K Safe ; Y2 My Body is Imp / Y1 C for M ; Y1 L Fwd ; Y2 C & R D ; Y2 Ch Fr / (covered in almost all topics) / Y1 W W Tog ; Y1 C for Oth ; Y1 L Fwd ; Y2 Ch Fr ; Y2 T Ch / Y1 Caring for M ; Y1 K Safe ; Y2 My Body Is Imp / Y1 Caring for M ; Y1 K Safe ; Y2 My Body Is Imp / Y1 Caring for Myself ; Y1 Keeping Safe / Y1 Caring for Myself ; Y1 K Safe ; Y2 My Body Is Imp / Y1 Caring for M ; Y1 K Safe ; Y2 My Body Is Imp / Y2 My Body is Important / Y1 Keeping Safe ; Y2 My Body is Imp ; Y2 Taking Charge / Y1 Caring for Myself ; Y2 My Body Is Important / Y1 Caring for Myself ; Y2 My Body Is Important / Y1 Caring for Myself ; Y2 My Body Is Important / Y1 Caring for Myself ; Y1 Keeping Safe ;
Y2 Who Is in Charge? ; Y2 My Body Is Important
Key Stage 1 : Skills / Pupils should: / -be able to decide what to do when things go wrong and when to seek help / -begin to develop decision-making skills: thinking critically, anticipating consequences / -co-operate with others in work and play / -consider personal safety, recognise potential dangers and practise ways of keeping safe / -discuss feelings and emotions with appropriate vocabulary / -develop strategies for coping with difficult situations incl. threatening behave., conflict, mistakes / -begin to develop skills of negotiation and communication / -be able to say “no”, “I’ll ask” / -follow simple safety instructions about different types of medicines / Key Stage 1 : Knowledge & Understanding / -know that all medicines are drugs but not all drugs are medicines / -know that all substances can be harmful if not used properly / -know and understand simple safety rules about medicines, tablets, solvents and household substances / -know that some people need them to lead a normal life / -know who can be trusted and when to say no / -now at a basic level, how the body works and ways of looking after the body / -know that cigarettes and alcohol have drugs in them and can be harmful to health and effect beh. / -know that there are people who are involved with medicines (e.g. doctors, nurses, chemists) / -know that there are people who can help people when they have questions or concerns
PSHE Topics / Y3 In Someone E Sh ; Y5 Who Dec ; Y6 Man Conflict / Y3 Keeping Safe in School ; Y6 Managing Conflict / Y3 Focus on Feelings ; Y6 Managing Conflict / Y5 Risks & Pressures ; Y6 Taking Responsibility / Y4 K Safe Outside School ; Y5 It’s My B ; Y6 T Resp / Y3 K Safe in School ; Y4 K SafeOutsideSchool / Y3 K S in Sch ; Y4 U & D in Rel ; Y5 R & P ; Y6 T Resp / Y4 KeepingSafeOutsideSchool / Y3 Keeping Safe in School ; Y6 T Responsibility / Y4 KeepingSafeOutsideSchool ; Y6 T Responsibility / Y4 Ups & Downs in Rel ; Y5 Risks & P ; Y6 T Resp / Y4 K SafeOutsideSchool ; Y4 Keeping Healthy / Y4 KeepingSafeOutsideSchool ; Y6 T Responsibility / Y3 K Safe in School ; Y4 K SafeOutsideSchool / Y5 Risks & Pressures ; Y6 Taking Responsibility / Y4 Keeping Healthy ; Y5 It’s My Body / Y5 Risks & P ; Y6 T Resp ; Y6 Rights, R & Law / Y5 Risks & Pressures ; Y6 Taking Responsibility
Key Stage 2 : Skills / Pupils should: / -make decisions about their own work and behaviour / -take responsibility for others in the class or elsewhere n the school / -be able to express their feelings and concerns to adults and peers / -develop strategies to resist adverse peer pressure and pressure from others / -relate the health information they are receiving to life beyond the classroom / -use basic safety procedures(e.g. using medicines, finding syringes) / -be able to identify who and how to ask for help / Key Stage 2 : Knowledge & Understanding / -know that all medicines are drugs but not all drugs are medicines / -know school rules relating to medicines, alcohol,, tobacco, solvent and illegal drugs / -there are legal, illegal, prescribed, over counter and household subst. Have some understanding of their effects / -how to make simple choices and how to exercise some simple techniques for resisting pressure from others / -know the important and beneficial role drugs play in society / -know who to turn to for help / -know the dangers from handling discarded syringes and needles / -understand what addiction is / -know, at a more detailed level, how the body works and how to take care of it. / -the law relating to the use of legal and illegal drugs (e.g. age of sale and purchase of cig, alcohol) / -understand about taking risks and the need to make informed decisions

Appendix 2

HCC Recommended Referral Procedure for Responding to Drug Related Incidents

Incident

Medical Emergency Exclusion

Police Headteacher Governors

Youth Service

Parents

DIPSY Back to Education

NB DIPSY = Drug Intervention Programme Supporting Youth Co-ordinator

taken from Hants PSHE / Drug Education Guidelines

1