School safeguarding issue

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Posting for a friend...

Child A with no medical needs was given prescription meds (penicillin) given to school for Child B in a totally different class. Child A alerted Parent A to situation, school had no idea of the error.

School keen to sweep under carpet. Where to go from here?

That is shocking and should not be swept under the carpet.

Local authority designated officer (LADO) needs to be informed on Monday with facts in writing. Each county council has one. Google to find contact details of yours.

Complain in writing to the chair of governors.

Thanks for reply. School in question is voluntary aided and mum in question accepts mistakes made but is horrified by attitude of head... very dismissive not a big deal etc..

Is a huge deal, right?!

It’s a huge deal. There was no harm done but there could be next time

How clear was the mum when handing over the medication?

She could've have possibly said "this is for my DS" when there are 2 of them

i didn't think schools had anything to do with medication.

No idea what the mum who have meds said... child who received is in different class, no relation, no meds kept at school.

Schools have responsibilities to administer meds if needed within school day.

It's difficult when you don't know exactly what was said by the initial parent.

It's a huge deal. At my school any prescribed medicine being given needs to be witnessed and counter signed to ensure this never happens! What if that child had been allergic to penicillin? They could have died. It needs reporting to the LADO ASAP

That is so dangerous, a penicillin allergy is so common - I'm allergic and whilst it wouldn't kill me if I had it it would make me very poorly and I'm a fully grown adult! Could be much worse for a child.

Thanks @mn2022 why difficult? Am coming at this from angle of parent who’s child was five. Meds, not who needed?

Thanks @GreyhoundG1rl, child is under 5...

@mummyh2016, @FluffyPJs am more aligned with way of thinking here..

@GreyhoundG1rl my DD is 4 and her school will administer antibiotics, I just have to sign a form giving them permission.

No. They usually make a family member come in. At primary level, anyway

Maybe where you live but it's not generally the case. Medicine is administered by school staff, but a form should be completed by the parent stating meds, dosage, times etc

@GreyhoundG1rl yes, absolutely happened. Am not sure if different for different councils etc but yes, child was under 5 and given someone else’s meds

I've never had to get a family member to go in and give meds. School has always given antibiotics etc. But I've had to fill in forms and meds have got to be in correct bottle with prescription label and name on it.

Must be just the schools my kids attended, then.

Child A thought to flag it up to parent at the end of the school day but didn’t think to flag it up to staff when they were giving it to them?
Anyway, yes it is a big deal and should definitely not be brushed under the carpet.
Are child A and B related?

they don't even give the kids plasters in case of allergies

Again, just not true. School apply plasters when necessary

In the last school I taught in, any medicine that needed administering had to be done by the head teacher and it needed to be clearly labelled with the child’s name. The parent also had to sign a form saying they allowed us to give it to their child.

Complaaaaaain.

When I worked in schools we administered prescription medication- we had to check name, dose etc. each time and have it witnessed and countersigned so it would have taken two people to make the mistake.

@TheChosenTwo yes but again, child A is under 5... didn’t question teachers, just told parents as part of end of day reflection

Child A and B not related... not even known to each other