Medical Information
At Woodlands, the health, safety and wellbeing of our children is very important to us. We work closely with parents and carers to make sure that children with medical needs are supported appropriately during the school day.
Medical Conditions
Parents and carers must inform school if their child has a medical condition, allergy or health need that may affect them in school.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- asthma
- allergies
- eczema or skin conditions
- epilepsy
- diabetes
- dietary or medical needs
- regular medication
- any condition that may require emergency support
Please let us know as soon as possible if your child receives a new diagnosis or if their medical needs change.
Individual Healthcare Plans
Some children with medical conditions may need an Individual Healthcare Plan. This helps school understand your child’s needs and sets out the support required during the school day.
Individual Healthcare Plans are usually written in partnership with parents and carers, school staff and, where appropriate, health professionals such as the school nurse, specialist nurse or paediatrician.
Plans may include:
- details of the child’s medical condition
- signs, symptoms and triggers
- medication and dosage
- what support is needed in school
- what to do in an emergency
- who needs to be informed
- arrangements for trips, visits and other school activities
Medicines in School
Where possible, medicines should be given at home.
If your child needs medicine during the school day, parents and carers must complete a medication form and hand the medicine to the school office. Children should not keep medicine in their bags or bring it into school themselves.
Medication must be:
- in the original packaging
- clearly labelled with the child’s name
- in date
- provided with clear dosage instructions
Staff can only administer medication when the correct permission has been completed by a parent or carer.
Asthma, Allergies and Emergency Medication
If your child has asthma, an allergy or may need emergency medication, please speak to the school office so that the correct arrangements can be put in place.
Parents and carers are responsible for making sure that medication kept in school, such as inhalers or adrenaline auto-injectors, is in date and replaced when needed.
Illness and Absence
If your child is unwell and unable to attend school, please contact the school office as soon as possible on the first day of absence.
Children should not attend school if they are too unwell to take part in the normal school day.
If your child has vomiting or diarrhoea, they must not return to school until 48 hours after the last episode.
By vomiting, we mean that your child has actually been sick, not just feeling nauseous or saying they feel sick.
By diarrhoea, we mean 3 or more liquid or semi-liquid poos within 24 hours, or any poo that is much looser or more watery than is normal for your child.
The 48-hour period starts from the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea. If your child is sick again or has diarrhoea again during this time, the 48 hours restarts from that point.
If you are unsure whether your child should attend school, please contact the school office for advice.
First Aid and Accidents
We have trained first aiders in school who support children if they become unwell or have an accident during the school day.
For minor bumps, grazes or accidents, staff will provide appropriate first aid. Parents and carers will be informed where needed.
If a child has a head injury, becomes significantly unwell or requires urgent medical attention, we will contact parents and carers. In an emergency, we will contact the emergency services.
Contact Details
It is very important that school has up-to-date contact details for parents, carers and emergency contacts.
Please inform the school office immediately if your phone number, address, email address or emergency contact details change.
Useful Forms and Policies
Please contact the school office if you need to complete a medication form or discuss your child’s medical needs.
You may also find the following documents useful:
