Medication at School

We are committed to ensuring that all pupils with medical conditions can access and enjoy the same opportunities at any of the Trust’s schools as any other pupil and to ensuring that they are able to play a full and active role in school life, remain healthy and achieve their academic potential. We implement and maintain effective management systems for the administration of medicines to all pupils in their care to provide support to individual pupils with medical needs. Please let the school office administration team know if your child has any medical conditions that we need to know. You can contact us via phone 01837 52866 or email: admin@okehamptonprimary.org.uk

You can view the policies online at dartmoor.org.uk, or request a free copy from the admin office.

We are happy to give medicines to children, providing that:

• The medicines are prescribed by a doctor
• You complete a consent form.

You can call into reception and pick up a form. The medicine should be brought into school in the original container from the chemist and must be labelled with the child’s name, the name of the medicine, the dose and any other instructions

Either the parent or another responsible adult must bring in and collect the medicine in person, this cannot be left to children.

We are unable to give any medicines that have not been prescribed by a doctor or in cases where these procedures have not been followed.

Asthma

We recognise that asthma is a serious condition affecting many children and we encourage all children with asthma to participate in all aspects of school life. It is important that children have immediate access to their reliever-inhalers.

The School Asthma Card is used as a record of the child’s asthma medication and so it is important that these are completed and kept up-to-date. Spare cards and explanatory letters are available from the school receptionist. You can contact us via phone 01837 52866 or email: admin@okehamptonprimary.org.uk

In the Early Years and Key Stage One children keep their reliever inhalers in a red box in the classroom. This box is always available to the children and is taken everywhere with the class e.g. on school visits, to PE and drama lessons and to assemblies.

Children in Key Stage Two are encouraged to be responsible for their own inhalers, but we advise that they keep a spare one in the First Aid box in the classroom.

It is important that you make sure that inhalers are in-date, full and match the current prescription

School Nurse

At Okehampton Primary School we are able to offer parents and carers a free and confidential ‘drop in’ session with the local school community nurse. If you have any concerns or queries about any aspect of your child’s health, please do come along to a session. The nurse will be able to give advice on a variety of issues including bed wetting, sleep problems, eating concerns or any issue which is affecting your child. These are normally held every other Wednesday. Please refer to the weekly newsletter or call in at the school office where you will be able to find information forthcoming sessions.

The School Nursing Service provides information and support to school-aged children and their families who live in Devon or who attend a Devon school. Devon County Council work in partnership with schools and other services to identify those children and young people who may be supported by the School Nursing service. This can also include working with schools to support their management of pupils with medical conditions, and contributing to policies which impact on health.

Working together with schools we:

• identify children and young people who may require support at transition

• deliver the National Childhood Measurement Programme (NCMP).

• identify children and young people who may be missing from education and where there may be a need for public health nursing support

• provide support, and advice in relation to toileting issues, healthy lifestyles, sleep routines and mental health and wellbeing

• work with Devon Partnerships as part of Early Help, SEND and safeguarding as appropriate

If you would like to speak to someone from the School nursing team for advice before your child starts school please contact the hub on: 0333 234 1904 or speak to School Parent Support Advisor Greta Button on: 01837 52866 or email: gbutton@okehamptonprimary.org.uk for further information or a referral.

National Medical Examinations and Support: During your child’s time at school, the following will be undertaken

• eye test

• flu jab

• dental support

First Aid

In the event of your child having a minor accident or injury whilst at school we have several staff fully qualified in First Aid who are able to offer basic treatment. In addition to this all teaching and support staff have regularly updated basic first aid training and some have specialist training for treating younger children. If your child has had an injury, they will be given basic treatment as required. If staff are in the slightest bit concerned about an injury we will contact you by telephone. However for injuries which are minor or simply require 10 minutes rest, a letter is always sent home and younger children are given a sticker to say they have visited first aid. In this way, parents know to look for a letter as younger children often forget they have been to the first aid station!

What happens if my child is ill at School?

Please inform staff of any health problems that your child may have, e.g. allergies, eczema, asthma etc.

If your child complains of feeling unwell at school we will notify you at home or work to see if there have been any concerns that morning. Depending on the time of day and how unwell your child is, you may be asked to come and collect your child from school.

It is essential that parents keep the office up to date of any changes in phone numbers either at home, work or on a mobile network. Please also ensure that any additional emergency contact details are also kept up to date. In the event that you cannot be contacted, we will move onto the next emergency contact details. You can contact us via phone 01837 52866 or email: admin@okehamptonprimary.org.uk

What do I do if my Child is unwell?

We have to keep detailed records of each child’s attendance and punctuality, which is monitored by the school and our Education Welfare Officer, who makes regular visits.

If your child is unwell, please telephone or email the school office first thing in the morning, and before 9am, on the day of your child’s absence (call 01837 52866) informing us that they will not be at school and the expected date of return. A note explaining the absence should then be brought to school on your child’s return.

Please note for child safety reasons we operate a first day call policy. If a parent/carer has not informed us that their child will be absent and the child is not present at registration, then we will telephone the parent/carer (initially), then any recorded emergency contacts, until we can establish that the child is safe.

If your child has a medical appointment please inform the office or your child’s class teacher in advance. You can contact us via phone 01837 52866 or email: admin@okehamptonprimary.org.uk

Head Lice

Head lice and nits are very common in young children and their families. They do not have anything to do with dirty hair and are picked up by head-to-head contact. The following advice on the treatment of head lice from NHS UK website: Combs are available from the school office for a small charge.

Firstly:

• Check if it's head lice (they are small insects that are up to 3mm long, but can be difficult to spot in your hair). Head lice eggs (nits) are brown or white (empty shell) and attached to the hair. Follow links to the NHS UK Website for images.
• Head lice can make your head feel itchy and like something is moving in your hair.

The only way to be sure someone has head lice is by finding live lice. You can do this by combing their hair with a fine toothed comb (detection comb). You can buy these online or at pharmacies. Check the school office to see if they have any available to buy on 01837 52866.

How to get rid of head lice:

• You can treat head lice without seeing a GP. 
• Treat head lice as soon as you spot them.
• You should check everyone in the house and start treating anyone who has head lice on the same day.
• There is no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice.

Wet Combing

Lice and nits can be removed by wet combing. You should try this method first.

You can buy a special fine-toothed comb (detection comb) online or from pharmacies to remove head lice and nits.

There may be instructions on the pack, but usually you:

• wash hair with ordinary shampoo
• apply lots of conditioner (any conditioner will do)
• comb the whole head of hair, from the roots to the ends

It usually takes about 10 minutes to comb short hair, and 20 to 30 minutes for long, frizzy or curly hair.

Do wet combing on days 1, 5, 9 and 13 to catch any newly hatched head lice. Check again that everyone's hair is free of lice on day 17.

Medicated lotions and sprays

Ask a pharmacist for advice if you have tried wet combing for 17 days, but your child still has live head lice.

They may recommend using medicated lotions and sprays. These kill head lice in all types of hair, and you can buy them from pharmacies, supermarkets or online.

Head lice should die within a day. Some lotions and sprays come with a comb to remove dead lice and eggs.

Some treatments need to be repeated after a week to kill any newly hatched lice.

Check the pack to see if they're OK for you or your child and how to use them.

If lotions or sprays do not work, speak to a pharmacist about other treatments.

Some treatments are not recommended because they're unlikely to work.

For example:

• products containing permethrin
• head lice "repellents"
• electric combs for head lice
• tree and plant oil treatments, such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and lavender oil herbal remedies

You cannot prevent head lice

There's nothing you can do to prevent head lice.

You can help stop them spreading by wet or dry combing regularly to catch them early.

Do not use medicated lotions and sprays to prevent head lice. They can irritate the scalp.

There's no need for children to stay off school or to wash laundry on a hot wash.