Support for Parents and Carers

Supporting pupils with medical needs in school

Most children with medical needs are able to attend school regularly and, with proper support from school and family can take part in the majority of normal school activities.

There may be 3 sets of circumstances where a school may need to be involved in supporting the medical needs of its pupils:

Where there is a short term medical need, for example in finishing a course of antibiotics
Where a pupil has to take medication from time to time
Where a pupil has a long term or complex medical need, for example asthma or diabetes

It is not the intention that the school should routinely administer antibiotics and deal with medical issues arising from common illnesses.

Wherever possible it is expected that pupils taking medication should do so before or after school rather than during the school day.

For children with a complex medical condition, there needs to be careful planning by the school and an understanding from children and their families of the policy and procedures that the school is operating.

School policies

Schools are able to develop their own policies and procedures for supporting pupils with medical needs and administering medicine.

If your child has a medical condition please discuss directly with your child's school. It is good practice to agree a health care plan with your child's school.

Useful web links

Directgov pupil health and safety web page|

Information on supporting child's welfare at school.

Teacher net|

Information for teachers and schools on supporting pupils with medical needs.

Parent centre|

Guidance on pupil health and welfare in schools.

Contact

Meena Kishinani

Head of Children's Policy and Trust Commissioning

Town Hall

1 Town Square

Barking

IG11 7LU

Tel: 020 8227 3507

Fax: 020 8227 3274

Email: meena.kishinani@lbbd.gov.uk|