If your child has an allergy or medical condition of any description, you must tell us. Please do not presume we know. It is important that you inform the school office if your child has any serious medical conditions or allergies giving as much information as possible. It is also important that you keep us updated on changes so that we can keep out records up to date. If you have any concerns or questions regarding medical conditions, allergies, inhalers, EpiPens or medicine administration please speak to the school office.

Allergens

Current allergens for school meals are displayed in the school entrance and in the school bistro. We have a number of children in our school who have severe food allergies to peanuts/nuts. It is important that there is strict avoidance of this food in order to prevent a life-threatening allergic reaction. We are asking for your help to provide our students with a safe school environment. Any exposure to peanuts/nuts may cause a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires emergency medical treatment. To reduce the chance of this occurring, we are asking that you do not send any peanut or nut containing products to school with your child that will be eaten in school. If your child has eaten peanuts/nuts before coming to school, please be sure your child’s hands and face have been thoroughly washed before entering the school.

At certain times in the year, we have bun/cake sales and parties – we ask that parents/carers send us nut-free products. If parents/carers send a child in with treats to give out for their birthday, these are given to children to take home and not consumed at school and we do ask that these can be shop purchased individually wrapped items, eg- mini bags of Haribo. We appreciate your support of these procedures.

Inhalers

If your child has, or develops, asthma or any complaint that requires an inhaler please inform the school and give us as much detail as possible. All inhalers are stored in the red emergency ‘grab bag’ in your child’s classroom. They should be brought to the school office and clearly marked with the child’s name and instructions relating to use and dosage. You will be asked to complete a health care plan. The school also has emergency inhalers located the school office. Children who have an inhaler must have them in school at all times and it is parent’s responsibility to ensure that this is the case.



EpiPens

Where a child requires an Epipen a Care Plan will be in place and a copy of this should be given to school along with 2 epipens. 1 Epipen will be stored in the school office, clearly marked with the child’s name along with a copy of the Care Plan and the other will be stored in the red emergency ‘grab bag’ in your child’s classroom. Epipens are stored in these locations so that all staff know where to come and quickly access them in the event of an emergency. 

Other prescribed medication

If at all possible we ask that parents/carers come to school to administer medication. In certain circumstances, and normally where the required dosage is four times a day, it is possible for school to do this. School can only administer tablets or medicine to pupils where they are prescribed by a doctor or dentist and have a pharmacy printed label on. In order for school to administer medicine parents/carers must fill in a medication consent form and specifying the dosage and frequency required. Medicines should be taken to the school office. The school is unable to take responsibility for any medicines left on the premises. Parents are asked to collect medicines from the office at the end of the day.

Non-prescribed medication

We are not allowed to administer non-prescribed medicines during school. However, we welcome parents/carers to come to school to administer them if they feel their child would benefit during the school day.

Paracetamol – Since October 2016, GPs no longer prescribe paracetamol. If a child must have this more than 3 times a day, and giving it during the school day is unavoidable, it can now be brought into school on the day it is required. It must be brought in 5ml sachet form only – in a sealed envelope with the child’s name, class and when it was last administered written on the front. It must be dropped off at the school office by the parent/carer and a medication consent form completed. If the dose required is 7.5ml, the parent/carer must provide an oral syringe or a 2.5ml spoon.

Hay fever medication (e.g. ‘Piriton’) can be administered outside of school the day and should not be brought into school. Please check the pollen forecast beforehand and administer medication before and after school, if necessary.