ROUND TOWER INTEGRATED PRIMARY SCHOOL

DRUGS POLICY

SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION

Ethos

Round Tower Integrated Primary School

We believe our children learn best in a caring environment where each child is valued. Each member of staff in the school is aware of the need to ensure children are made welcome and that past experiences are taken into account when planning to deliver the curriculum.

We aim to prepare our pupils to be responsible members of society and to know that each individual’s contribution is vital. Our pupils are encouraged to respect one another’s opinion and property, where each child feels valued, both as a member of a group and as an individual within the life of the school community.

There is a feeling of contentment in our school; children gain confidence and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Children are provided with a wide range of experiences in and out of the classroom, in a safe and stimulating environment.

Parents too are welcomed and know they are able to speak to any member of staff about any concerns. Concerns and enquiries are dealt with promptly, sympathetically and effectively. We recognize that parents are a key element to the success of our school.

Rationale:

As part of our Pastoral Care, we recognise that children are exposed to the terminology of drugs and drug use through contact with older children, popular music, television programmes, and children’s magazines and through the increasing availability of drugs in general. Often the messages they receive are confusing and seem to glamorise the use of drugs.

It is our aim to attempt to promote within our pupils knowledge of drugs and their long-term adverse effects and to equip them with the skills to manage their lives effectively and make informed and responsible decisions.

Drugs Education is a statutory requirement for all schools and recent research has shown that such education is beneficial in preventing some children from experimenting with drugs and delaying the onset with others. Statistics also indicate that children in the 10-14 years age range being extremely vulnerable.

Drugs Definitions:

We define drugs/solvents as being any substance which, when taken, has the effect of altering the way a person behaves, feels, sees or thinks.

The term ‘drugs’ includes everyday substances such as tea and coffee, as well as the socially unacceptable legal drugs like poppers, solvents, and underage consumption of alcohol and tobacco.

The term also includes prescribed medication i.e. those that are issued by prescription by a doctor such as antibiotics, tranquillisers, inhalers and Ritalin and over-the-counter medicines, such as paracetamol.

We define ‘illegal drugs’ as those substances listed as controlled drugs, such as Cannabis, LSD, Magic Mushrooms, Ecstasy, Speed, Heroin and Cocaine.

Aims of our drugs policy:

A policy is paramount to ensure a consistent approach by all members of staff, to develop an effective partnership with parents/guardians and to provide a clear statement to all, how any incident would be addressed.

The aims, therefore, are:

  • To provide a clear statement of the school’s view on drug education.
  • To ensure a consistent approach from staff to drug education and in the handling of drug related incidents.
  • To safeguard good practice in the future.

SECTION TWO: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

Roles and Responsibilities:

Board of Governors:

  • Support the development and on-going review of the drugs policy and programme.
  • Ensure a summary of the policy is published in the school prospectus
  • Ensure they are fully aware and adequately trained to deal with any drug related incident including alcohol and tobacco.
  • Aim to have one member of the Board specifically trained in drugs-related issues.

The Principal, Mrs R. Clarke, will: -

  • Determine (not investigate) any drug-related incident. (The PSNI will investigate)
  • Contact the parents and/or guardians of any pupils involved in any drugs-related incident.
  • Contact the PSNI, then confine her responsibilities to the welfare of the pupil(s) involved
  • Inform the Board of Governors about the incident
  • Agree with them any appropriate pastoral or disciplinary measures to be taken
  • Store or dispose of any drug or drug related paraphernalia
  • Report the incident to staff at Antrim Board Centre.

The Designated Teacherfor Drugs is Mrs Murray. Her responsibilities will be:

  • To co-ordinate the school’s procedures for handling suspected drugs-related incidents
  • Training and induction of the above named procedures with new and existing staff.
  • To take possession of any substance or drugs paraphernalia found in the event of any drugs-related incident.
  • To complete a report following any drug-related incident.
  • To oversee and co-ordinate the drugs education programme
  • To act as contact point for outside agencies coming into the school

Mrs. Murray will ensure that an effective programme of study is being taught. Following an incident she may wish to amend the programme.

(d) Individual Staff Members (teaching and non-teachers)

  • Be aware of procedures to follow in the case of a drugs related incident.
  • Deal with any emergency procedures surrounding the incident they have just encountered.
  • Forward any information, substance or paraphernalia to designated teacher.
  • Complete a factual report for the designated teacher.

(e) It is the responsibility of the teaching staff to ensure that the agreed programme of drugs education is being followed and to provide the children with learning opportunities to enable them to acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to take responsibility for the decisions they make.

Staff Training

Training will be provided for staff approximately every two years by NEELB staff. This may include training on drugs awareness, how to deliver the Drugs Education programme and advice on how to deal with a drugs related incident. Such training may include non-teaching staff and parents.

Overview of our Drugs Education Programme

The over-riding aim of our drugs education programme is to equip our children to make wise and well-informed decisions in an ever-changing society. We seek to achieve this by providing opportunities for our children to acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills, which will enable them to make these decisions, and in doing so adopt a safe and healthy lifestyle in a society where drugs are readily available.

Children will be taught Drugs Education through the new statutory part of the curriculum, Personal Development and Mutual Understanding. They will be taught at a level appropriate to their age and ability, in a way which demonstrates continuity and progression in line with the Revised Curriculum.

Some of the aims of our programme are:-

  • To inform children of the effects of drug abuse and provide accurate and up to date information on drugs and their effects on health
  • To establish skills and behaviour which enable children to communicate effectively, assert themselves and take responsible decisions
  • To help pupils acquire skills in managing peer pressure
  • To create a climate where pupils feel happy to discuss drugs.
  • To build up the self-esteem and confidence of our children
  • To help our children to identify and understand the pressures and influences which could have a serious consequence for their health and well-being
  • To ensure progression and continuity in knowledge and understanding, matching these to the age, maturity and circumstances of the pupils concerned

At Key Stage 1, this involves helping pupils to:

  • Understand how the body works, what goes onto and into the body, and ways of looking after it;
  • Consider the role of drugs as medicines, the reasons people use them, and simple safety rules and school rules;
  • Learn about safe and unsafe substances used in the home and school, and simple safety rules:
  • Understand that all drugs can be harmful if not used properly;
  • Consider people who are involved with drugs and medicines, for example, health professionals, chemists and shopkeepers.

At Key Stage 2, this involves helping pupils to:

  • Develop an awareness of the safe use of medicines;
  • Develop an awareness of the harmful effects of caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and solvents, their general effects on the body and on behaviour, and the associated risks of drug-taking;
  • Identify and understand the pressures and influences to take drugs and develop the life skills to make informed decisions;
  • Consider school rules relating to medicine, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs within the home and the wider community,
  • Develop an awareness of the law relating to the use of legal and illegal drugs.

A variety of teaching strategies appropriate to the subject matter, the maturity of the individual and their individual circumstances will be employed.

Strategies will include whole class, group, pair or individual teaching as well as role play, drama, debates discussion etc.

Staff Use of Tobacco and Alcohol

It became a legal requirement on 30 April 2007 that all premises are completely smoke free. No-Smoking signs have therefore been displayed in the school, clearly visible to all staff and visitors. Anyone smoking will be advised that they are committing an offence and will be politely asked to stop smoking and advised that it is also an offence for the school to allow anyone to smoke.

For issues relating to staff use of alcohol or drugs, we refer them to the Alcohol and Drug Misuse Policy (TNC 2005/5) available from the D.E. website.

Communicating the Policy to Parents/Agencies

Reference will be made to the Drugs Policy in the school prospectus and parents will have access to the policy at any time. Their views and ideas regarding the policy will be welcomed.

The policy will also be given to any outside agency coming into the school, so that they are clear about their role in the school and that they are supporting the on-going programme.

SECTION THREE: MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Procedures for Managing Drug-Related Incidents

For all procedures for managing drugs-related incidents, please see Appendices 1-3 at the back of the policy.

Appendix 1. Finding a substance on the school premises

Appendix 2. Pupil suspected of having taken drugs in school

Appendix 3. Pupil suspected of possessing/distributing an illegal substance

It is a statutory requirement that the PSNI is informed in all cases where it has been alleged or suspected that a pupil has a controlled drug in their possession or if such a drug has been found in the school grounds.

Disciplinary Measures

It is not appropriate to prescribe specific sanctions for drug-related incidents. The principal will decide how to respond to any such incident after taking into account a range of factors such as: -

  • Age of pupil
  • What was the motivation?
  • Was there peer pressure?
  • Does the pupil know and understand the school policy and rules?
  • Is it a first or subsequent offence?
  • Quantity of drug
  • Is the drug legal/illegal?
  • Is it possession or supply

At all times we will consider the needs of individual pupils and support mechanisms will be put into place, such as appropriate counselling from NEELB or other appropriate agency. The matter will be handled discretely and sensitively and parents are expected to support the aims of the school throughout the implementation of any aspect of the school’s policy in deciding disciplinary matters. It is emphasised that all measures taken will be for the long term benefit of the pupil as well as the protection of other pupils.

Searching:

School staff may search neither children, nor their clothing or possessions. However, a teacher can ask the pupil to empty pockets or schoolbag or, in an emergency situation, the bag may be searched for the purpose of diagnosis in order to provide reliable information for any medical treatment.

This will always be done in the presence of another adult. However, if a pupil has or is suspected of having a controlled drug, the police will be called to the school to conduct the investigation.

Detaining:

When managing a suspected drugs-related incident, the pupil should be invited to remain in the school under the supervision of a member of staff until the police arrive. If s/he refuses to remain, the school as a rule cannot detain a pupil. However, it is important to recognise the point at which a young person becomes a danger to self or others and in this case the teacher has a duty of protection and may have to detain the pupil using reasonable force.

Confidentiality

In the child’s interest, the school can never guarantee confidentiality in the event of a drug-related incident, or if the child revealed that they had taken an illegal drug. This information must be given to the principal. This applies to all staff and any member of outside agencies visiting the school.

Procedures for using Outside Agencies in School

The Visitor/Agency will:

  • Have Child Protection policy
  • Be given copy of policy to ensure school’s views on confidentiality
  • Have appropriate resources
  • Have a clear set of aims and objectives and the impact it had on the children.
  • Ensure their programme is part of the school’s drugs programme

The teacher will:

  • Always be present in the room
  • Ensure the content is appropriate
  • Evaluate the programme and the impact it made on the children.
  • Provide introductory/follow-up activities before and after the visit

Emergency First Aid Procedures

Miss Carruthers and Miss Hand are both trained in Heart Start

  • Send for the teacher trained in first aid
  • Find out what has been taken. This will help the emergency crew.
  • If a depressant drug (alcohol, solvents, sleeping pills or painkillers) has been taken, they will feel drowsy. Keep them awake by getting them to walk or by applying a cool damp cloth to the back of their neck
  • Do not give anything to eat or drink.
  • If unconscious, put in recovery position, clear airways and call an ambulance immediately
  • If they stop breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Stay until ambulance arrives and inform them of the facts.
  • If a stimulant (Amphetamines or ecstasy) has been taken, the person will be distressed. It is important they remain calm and relaxed. Get them to breathe in and out slowly. If hyperventilating occurs, get them to breath in and out of a paper bag.
  • If LSD or hallucinogen has been taken, keep them in a darkened, quiet room to avoid sensory stimulation. They should be supervised at all times and kept reassured that the effects will wear off and they are in no danger.

Management of Solvents in School

Any substance capable of having an intoxicating effect will not be allowed in school. Solvents are volatile substances and teachers and other staff will exercise caution and discretion to ensure children do not come into contact with harmful substances.

In the classroom teachers will keep a watchful eye on children using glues, felt-tips, Tippex etc. Care will be taken to account for all such materials at the end of a lesson. All such materials will be stored in a place to which only the teacher has access.

Cleaning materials used by the caretaker/cleaners should be clearly labelled, in their original containers and neatly stored out of reach of the children.

Management of an Illegal substance

Should the need arise, the principal will ensure grounds are checked for evidence of drug misuse, which may have occurred outside school hours and make the necessary arrangements for the safe disposal of dangerous materials

Any illegal substance found will be kept in safe storage by the principal until it can be handed over to the police.

Dealing with the Press

In the event of a drugs’ problem being discovered in the school, the principal may, if approached release a statement to the press. No other member of the school community should volunteer information.

If it is deemed necessary:-

  • A written statement will be prepared beforehand
  • It will be positive, short and factual
  • No further questions will be answered
  • The privacy of the pupil/family will be respected
  • The statement will conclude on a reassuring note that the incident had been managed effectively

Management of Prescribed Medicines in School

Teachers have the right to refuse to administer any drug to pupils and this right will be respected. Where a teacher is willing to supervise or give medication, parents will be required to grant their permission using the appropriate form. This should include the following information:

  • The name of the drug
  • The amount to be administered
  • The time(s) it has to be given
  • Name of the doctor who prescribed the drug

The teacher will not be held liable in the event of him/her forgetting to administer the medication.

All medicines will be stored in a safe place, out of reach of the children. Under no circumstances will medicines not prescribed by a doctor be administered to pupils