Orchard Park Community Primary School

Medical Matters

Illness

To help keep our school community healthy, children should not be sent to school if they are unwell or if there is any doubt about their fitness to attend. If your child has experienced diarrhoea and/or vomiting, they must remain at home for at least 48 hours after the last episode to help prevent the spread of infection to other children and staff.

If your child is unwell and will not be attending school, please inform the School Office by 9:30am, clearly stating their symptoms.

It is essential that you notify the school immediately if your child is diagnosed with a highly contagious illness such as chickenpox, measles, or German measles. A guide to common childhood illnesses is available below; however, please remember this is only a general reference. If you are unsure, always consult your GP.

You can also find a helpful document under ‘Key Documents’ which outlines infection types and recommended exclusion periods, as issued by the Health Protection Agency.

If your child is unable to take part in PE or games, please speak directly to the class teacher. For safeguarding reasons, we cannot accept verbal messages from children regarding their fitness to participate.

Medicines in School

While school staff have a duty of care for all children during the school day, the administration of prescribed medication is not part of that responsibility. Wherever possible, we ask that medication be given outside of school hours.

If this is not feasible, parents or carers are welcome to come into school to administer the prescribed dose themselves.

In exceptional circumstances, and only when absolutely necessary, a member of staff may administer medication. In such cases, parents or carers must complete a

Short-Term Medical Information Consent Form

Medication will not be given without this completed form.

Please note:

• Medicines must be prescribed by a doctor.

• They must be in their original packaging, clearly labelled by the pharmacist.

• Medication must not be transferred into another container.

These measures help us ensure the safe and appropriate handling of all medication in school.

Inhalers

Inhalers are an exception to our general medicine policy, and we are happy for children to keep and use their inhalers in school when needed. However, to ensure safety and compliance, all inhalers must be in their original packaging with the pharmacist’s label clearly attached.

It is the responsibility of parents or carers to ensure that inhalers are:

• In date

• Clearly labelled

• In good working order

• Readily available for your child to access when needed

For any long-term medication, including inhalers that need to be held or administered by school staff, you must complete a

Long-Term Medical Information Consent Form

Nut Allergy

If your child has a nut allergy, it is essential that you inform the school immediately. Where necessary, parents must also provide an in-date epi-pen, clearly labelled and in its original packaging.

School staff receive appropriate training from the school nurse on how to use an epi-pen in the event of an emergency. However, it remains the parent’s responsibility to ensure that the epi-pen is:

• Clearly labelled

• In date

• Packaged correctly

• Replaced as needed

Keeping us informed and equipped ensures we can respond swiftly and safely if your child ever needs emergency care.

Headlice

Headlice are a common issue in all schools from time to time. The best prevention is regular brushing, combing, and checking your child’s hair at least once a week.

If headlice are found, prompt treatment is the most effective way to prevent further spread. For more information and advice, please refer to the NHS website for Head Lice Guidance.

Key Documents