Medicines in school
No child under sixteen should be given medicines without their parent’s written consent.
Medicines should only be sent to school where it would be detrimental to the child’s health if it were not administered during the school day.
The school will only accept medicines that have been prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse prescriber or pharmacist prescriber. Medicines should always be provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include the prescriber’s instructions for administration.
School should keep written records of each time a medicine is given. (See Appendices)
A child who has been prescribed a controlled drug may legally have it in their possession. School may look after the controlled drug, where it is agreed that it will be administered for the child for whom it has been prescribed.
Any controlled drugs should be kept in a lockable, non portable container and only named staff will have access. Children should know where their own medicines are stored and who holds the key.
All emergency medicines, such as asthma inhalers and adrenaline pens, should be readily available to children and should not be locked away. Children may carry their own inhaler.
Non-emergency medicines should be kept in a secure place, not accessible to children. Medicines that are required to be refrigerated should be kept in an air-tight container and clearly labelled.
The headteacher’s agreement is required for a non- prescribed medicine to be administered.
To read the full policy: Download ADMINISTERING MEDICINES 2006
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