Medical and Health Matters
We are an inclusive school. We have experience of supporting children with life-long medical conditions. If your child has a serious medical condition, you will need to meet with staff before your child is admitted on roll to discuss their individual needs. An Individual Healthcare Plan will set out their individual needs. This is usually written with the support of the community nurse team or another relevant healthcare individual who knows your child well. Our policy to support the full inclusion of children with medical needs can be found on our Policies and Procedures web page.
Medicine
If your child requires medication as part of their everyday life, for example asthma, or needs medication for a short period only, please come to the school office to make the necessary arrangements. We are happy to administer medication but will only do so if a 'Medicine- Parental Agreement' form has been signed by the parent with the name of the medicine, the dosage and frequency clearly indicated, and the medicine clearly labelled with the child's full name.
All medicines are locked away, except for those for emergencies - e.g. asthma inhalers, anaphylaxis 'epipens', diabetes medicines, which are kept in appropriate place in the child's class.
Sickness and Diarrhoea
If your child has a sickness or diarrhoea bug, please ensure that a period of 48 hours without sickness or diarrhoea elapses before sending them back to school. This will help to contain the spread of such illnesses.
If your child becomes unwell at school and is clearly unable to stay, we will always contact you. Please ensure that all emergency contact numbers are kept up to date.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/
Head Lice
Head lice are a very common occurrence and nothing to feel embarrassed about. Do let the school know if your child contracts nits or head lice so that we can ask all parents to check their children’s hair. The school nurse is able to offer advice if you find you have a persistent problem.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-lice-and-nits/
Infectious and Contagious Diseases
Please inform us immediately if your child has an infectious or contagious disease. E.g. Rubella (German measles), chicken pox, scarlet fever etc. in order that we can minimise the spread, where possible, and keep other parents informed.
Below is a useful NHS chart - 'When should my child return to school?' - which details the typical time off needed for common childhood illnesses.
Asthma
Asthma inhalers should be clearly marked with your child’s name and will be kept in their classrooms so that they are readily available to be used when necessary. An Individual Healthcare Plan (IHCP) will need to be completed and this can be found below. Cough sweets are considered to be a medicine and are therefore not allowed in the classrooms. Our full Asthma Policy can be found on our Policies and Procedures page.
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/child/life/school
Allergies and Anaphylaxis
If your child has a severe allergy and requires an adrenaline pen you will need to fill out an Individual Healthcare Plan (see below). Schools are now permitted to hold an emergency adrenaline pen, but these can only be used if parents have signed a consent form. There is no guarantee that school will have an emergency pen on site as there are, on occasions - and as is the case at present - national shortages. Also, the emergency pen may have been used for another pupil. It is therefore imperative that parents ensure that should their child need one they provide the school with an adrenaline pen. It is parents' responsibility to ensure that it is kept in date. Our Allergen and Anaphylaxis Policy can be found on the Policies and Procedures page.
https://www.allergyuk.org/living-with-an-allergy/at-school/
Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious condition where a persons blood glucose level is too high. There are two main types, type 1 and type 2. Most children in school will have type 1 diabetes, which is a serious, lifelong condition where blood glucose levels are too high because the body can't make a hormone called insulin. Having type 1 has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle, it just happens. The causes are still unknown.
Diabetes can affect a child’s learning because it can cause difficulties with attention, memory, processing speed and perceptual skills if it’s not managed. It’s really important that a child is supported at school so they can manage their diabetes and get the most out of being at school.
Some children with diabetes may have more absences than other students. This won’t be the case for every child with diabetes, but if they do take time off for hospital appointments or feeling unwell because of diabetes, it’s important they don’t get penalised for this if possible.
It’s the parent’s responsibility to tell the school that their child has diabetes as soon as possible.
Individual Health Care Plans, or IHPs, plans are used to make sure a child’s diabetes in managed properly during school time. The child’s parents and their PDSN should be there when a child’s personal plan is created. It should also be updated and reviewed regularly.
At least two members of staff at Norton are fully trained to support a child and their diabetes. All members of staff have a general awareness training too.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/your-child-and-diabetes/schools/
Epilepsy
When a child has epilepsy, it’s natural to worry about them having seizures at school. But with the right communication and support, having epilepsy should not stop your child getting the most out of their education.
The first step to making sure your child is safe at school is to talk to the school about your child's epilepsy. It’s a good idea to let school know even if your child is waiting for a diagnosis. The school may record all this information in an Individual Healthcare Plan which will include information such as:
- What type of seizures your child has and what happens during them?
- How to deal with a seizure and what support a child may need afterwards
- When a seizure becomes an emergency
- Any triggers for your child’s seizures
- Any medicine a child may need at school
The school staff will in most circumstances work with a child's epilepsy nurse to understand their epilepsy fully.