Prescription medicines at school

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My son was prescribed antibiotics and the new primary headteacher has said the school no longer administers medication for insurance reasons I would have to come into the school myself to give it him. I couldn't so he missed his dose. Silly rule to me as previous school you just sign permission slip. Any other schools have same rule?

I think this a pretty common rule now can't you time his doses for when he's not at school say breakfast dinner/tea and bedtime?

Ours will only administer if they are x4 daily, if it's x3 you are expected to give at 8 / 4 / 8

I don't think schools can totally refuse to administer medication, otherwise it could be disability discrimination. However, they are entitled to ask that doses be timed to avoid school hours if at all possible.

Ours will give medicine for ongoing/chronic conditions, but have never given anti-bs etc. You either time it as best you can around the school day, or come in and administer yourself. Seems reasonable to me - the number of children that must be on medication at any one time in a school must be quite high. I wouldn't want the responsibility of making sure the right child has the right medication at the right time. Especially in primary school when most kids seem to need half a tube of smarties to take any form of medicine

Our only give meds for long term conditions, no anti biotics. My lo was on 4 a day and I work so had to give them before school, straight after school, tea time and when I went up to bed. Still worked, as long as they get all their doses.

DD was on ABs and she couldn't get the 3x a day ones. I think it is unfair to expect parents to come and administer or keep the child out of school. DD was on a 14 day course.

Luckily she is able to take tablets since she is 6.5, it makes life so much easier. The school was grateful as well :-)

I had to go,up every two hours to give eye drops. School won't administer anti biopics. It is not disability discrimination as most anti biopics are not related to an ongoing disability. Presumably for children with an actual disability arrangements are made.

standard in most schools now I think.

We administer prescribed medication clearly marked with child's name and required dosage. Parents must sign an authorisation form giving permission.
We never administer over the counter products.

Same as mrz.
In my school it takes two members of staff to give medication, one checks the other to ensure no mistakes are made.

Children & Families Act 2014 requires schools to support children with medical conditions (even short term ones). So 1 dose of 4x ABs would need to be given at school - they can't just say "no" any more. The insurance excuse is rubbish.

I talked to headteacher today and he said that he had no objection to administering although the office said it was his decision. Don't know what's going on but thanks for that bit of advice on the children families act. There is a parents forum tonight so will raise it there.

DC's school administer prescription medication, we just have to sign a form detailing medication, dose and time(s).

DD is asthmatic and has a long term care plan at school; obviously they have had to administer her inhalers and we/they also require a plan should she not respond to medication (999 - pretty self explanatory really, but documented for everyone's benefit).

She has had a horrendous winter with repeated chest infections and a couple of bouts of oral thrush due to the antibiotics and corticosteroids. If school weren't willing to administer additional prescription medication she would have been off more than she was at school!

Our school will administer prescription meds but no over the counter. Son was told to take ibuprofen (non-prescription) when he broke his arm. Nurse told me she couldn't in those circumstances but if he had a headache whilst at school every lunchtime she was allowed to give him some then (with a massive wink to him and me). Hurray for nurse with common sense!