To think this schools policy on prescribed medicines is wrong?

[ForrinForrinerFromForrinLand]

I just wondered weather there is a standard rule about this for all primary schools?

DN has just started school in. He suffers from severe asthma, its especially bad in winter months to the point where he has hospital stays monthly. His school initially requested that an inhaler was taken in. However after a little probing it seems they haven't been giving it to him. He's very wheezy. When asked the teacher responded by saying that he didn't request it. They expected a 4 yr old to prompt them every 4 hours for an inhaler! And now the school is saying they won't be responsible for ensuring the inhaler is regularly given to DN.

Now I'm a little shocked as I assumed schools had a duty of care. And certainly had to have plans in place for children who needed prescribed medication during the school day.

[KatyPutTheCuttleOn]

Yes, their policy is wrong. They need to do it and take responsibility for remembering.

[flibbertywidget]

I am with OP on this. A 4yo child is too young for all the responsibility to lumped on to his/her shoulders. There are adults in the equation here, who need be be adults and support the child.

[Sirzy]

New - yes it means it not under control but sometimes asthma just can't be controlled. My son is 3 and on maximum doses for under 16s of his meds including one which isn't licenced for under 4s. He still requires 10 puffs of ventolin minimum to get through the day.

His consultant is aware of that but at the moment it's he best option, especially as options are limited because of his age.

[Juuhyt]

My 8 yo needs reminding constantly to take his inhalers, he wouldn't bother if no-one made him take them, even if he ends up in hospital.
I wouldn't expect a 4 yo to take responsibility for this..

At my ds's school, there are several first aiders who administer medicines/inhalers etc.

We had issues with a TA who wouldn't let ds have his inhaler as he could talk . This happened twice (and one subsequent hospital admission). We asked our GP to write to the school about how dangerous asthma can be, and how important it is to ensure all staff know how to deal with it. Never had a problem since.

A child is at school for 6 hours at least. Of course it's not unreasonable to expect the school to give a 4 yo his inhaler during that time.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

It's no a senco that is needed here as from what has been said your DN has no special educational needs, just needs their puffer at about lunchtime.

At our ds's school - forms must be filled in detailing exactly what and how much medication should be given and at what time. Details of the last dose should be given too. All of this needs to be agreed verbally and then in writing (form countersigned) by the headmaster before the child is handed over to the care of the school.

This means that if the child is essentially well (eg ab's with a grazed knee after coming off their bike or preventative inhalers) then they can be at school as usual as long as the school have agreed to this in advance.

That's key - open and full communication between all parties with full agreement being gained in advance and that's what seems to be missing here IMO.

[StayAwayFromTheEdge]

I am disgusted with the attitude of the teaching staff.
Would they refuse to give medication to an epileptic or diabetic child? Or one with a life threatening allergy.

This news story is particularly horrifying, although it does involve an older child...

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8573308.stm

We are hoping to do some work with pupils and teachers around inhaler technique and use - it looks like it couldn't come soon enough.

[ForrinForrinerFromForrinLand]

I'm a little at the number of posters who are slightly my 1yr old self medicates....So this 4yr old should be more than competent.

Fwiw I expect a school to be in loco parentis during school hours. Therefore if any harm comes to my child the school is 100% responsible. I wouldn't give a child a bottle of pills and expect them to self medicate. And I don't see an inhaler as any different.

peppi I would be fine with this for an older child but not for a child who is in reception.

[ForrinForrinerFromForrinLand]

stay that's shocking!

[Sirzy]

It's not about self medicating though its about them understanding their condition. That's not a lot to ask of a child with severe asthma who lives with it day in day out. They know before anyone else that they are struggling so they need to learn to ask for help at that point

[StayAwayFromTheEdge]

SIrzy - he is 4 years old. Yes he does need to learn, but he has to be supported to do that and it will take time. The frightening thing is that teachers don't seem to realise just how serious asthma can be.

Hospital admissions for childhood asthma are incredibly high and many could be prevented with proper treatment.

My DS is 4. He missed reception this year by one week. There is no way he could manage his condition himself yet, and I am highly trained in asthma management.

[ForrinForrinerFromForrinLand]

sirzy but he's not struggling to breath is he, he needs regular dosage of his medication at 4hr intervals. Tell me does your 3yr old know how to tell the time? So he would be capable of alerting an adult when his meds are due?

[NewNameforNewTerm]

Maybe this is a breakdown in communication. School asking for an inhaler to give when they recognise the child is wheezy, before PE, etc. without knowing it to be treated as regular interval medication, not as needed occasional emergency relief medication. Bearing in mind this is probably at least third hand information (not OP's child, but DN) it may not be as simple as school won't give inhalers. There is nothing in OP about school refusing to give the medication, in fact that actually asked for it.

When a child needs their inhaler I hold it and they hold their spacer. I press the dosage and the child breathes. This is until they have long enough arms and the coordination to press the puffer themselves with me there just counting their breaths. Sometimes I'll hear a child that needs their inhaler or know it is PE or cold or damp so they'll need it before playtime, but much of the time I do rely on children telling me they need it, their chest feels funny, etc. But then I've never had a child that need it every four hours like the OPs Niece/Nephew.

[PeppiNephrine]

My son is only a year older knows to ask for his meds if he isn't given them. You can easily train a four year old to respond to a watch alarm. Hell you can get a puppy to do it, it should be easy for a child!

[Goofymum]

You really need to get a care plan in place with your surgery's practice nurse, or the local asthma nurse, since this is a chronic condition that needs regular medication. At my DD's school they make a big deal about care plans and they're updated every year by our asthma and allergy nurse. With something this important you can't expect kids that sgd to remember to keep taking their medication whether they are able to self medicate or not. But do make it official otherwise it won't get done.

[NCFail]

Ask to see their medicines policy - they have to have one.

Read the DfE policy on this and contact the school nurse.

I had to do exactly this, for exactly the same reason in reception... The school nurse and asthma nurse worked together to change the regime so it was given outside of school.

Schools should give medications but its variable.

[NewNameforNewTerm]

At least he's recognising he's in need asking for something Altinkum . When you share that story hopefully it will alert people he needs his inhalers. He'll get there.

I had a pupil with ASD that used to tell me he needed banana bread ... this meant he felt the symptoms he often had before an epileptic fit, nothing to do with cake! We knew this so could move him to a safe place (although he frequently didn't fit then, but better safe ...)

[BrianTheMole]

But then I've never had a child that need it every four hours like the OPs Niece/Nephew.

You learn something new every day then. Like if I don't take my becotide inhaler every four hours, then I will end up in hospital. Not every case of asthma is dealt with in the same way.

[Sirzy]

Forrin - DS knows he needs his inhalers when he wakes up and before he goes to bed. When he is having them at dinner he knows he needs to take them at dinner time. That sort of routine really shouldn't be hard for a child without special needs to understand, especially not one with such severe asthma.

I am not saying the school shouldn't help not at all but surely it is in the child's best interest to ensure they are fully aware of the condition and take some sort of "control" of it from as young as possible?

[NewNameforNewTerm]

Of course we learn something every day Brian, what an odd statement! I didn't understand the complex medical condition one of my new class has, but the mum didn't assume I would because despite needing frequently blood tests throughout the day and action from the results it is not basic diabetes. But if teachers have a clear care plan they do understand. My point was that it may be a communication breakdown both ways, not just teachers being ignorant!

[Sirzy]

I have plenty of knowledge which is exactly why I think is important for the child to understand his condition as much as possible as well as for the parents to work with the school to come up with a proper action plan. So far it sounds like its been something mentioned in passing rather than arranging specific meetings to sort if out.