Our primary school says if children need medicine at specific times 'pop' in & DIY

[wonkywillow]

Surely this penalises busy working parents, with occupations where they can't just 'pop' in? Or a parent who simply has other pressing commitments..

Can schools actually do this? They seem to be negating their responsibilities towards providing education and support for children with long term medical conditions that require regular medication.

Schools are not responsible for parents' working patterns.

irvine, you never answered my question, in response to your post claiming lives could be lost if I approached the school about this, earlier. Here it is again,

Is not this a precarious position to be put in? Do you think it is right, irvine? Should schools provision for the welfare and education of the pupils in their care be dependent on parents being deferential? Should lives be lost when parents aren't?

I think my point is clear to most of the readers. And same goes for you, you haven't answered some of my questions either.

I wouldn't waste your time, Irvine, responding to the OP, whose posts are becoming increasingly hysterical.

How many more times?

The school is responsible for education not medical needs. A school that refuses to administer meds is not breaking any law. You don't like that. We get that. But it's still the way it is. And the way it will stay.

The impact of additional needs on both families and schools is HUGE and not met in many cases. That said “popping into school” to administer meds or indeed change nappies while dreadful rather pales into insignificance compared to the number of children with additional needs who struggle to access state funded education AT ALL. Further if you (Not school) are including medication of the “finishing a round of antibiotics “ as a massive give on the part of parents I would suggest you are barking up the wrong tree. Frankly you have been extremely lucky if that’s the extent of “over and above” normal parenting you’ve been asked to contribute.

zzzzz my child had a Statement with funding for severe and complex needs. I have spent years advocating for them. I do know. I did not go to work, couldn't, especially when factoring in the illegal exclusion in the form of a 'part time' timetable inflicted upon us for some time. I mentioned working parents and also parents who do not work. I have no prejudices concerning the impact additional needs can have on a family.

The school is responsible for education not medical needs. A school that refuses to administer meds is not breaking any law. You don't like that. We get that. But it's still the way it is. And the way it will stay.

I do not think that is strictly true. The government says this:

Supporting a child with a medical condition during school hours is not the sole responsibility of one person. A school’s ability to provide effective support will depend to an appreciable extent on working co-operatively with other agencies. Partnership working between school staff, healthcare professionals (and, where appropriate, social care professionals), local authorities, and parents and pupils will be critical. An essential requirement for any policy therefore will be to identify collaborative working arrangements between all those involved, showing how they will work in partnership to ensure that the needs of pupils with medical conditions are met effectively.

16. Governing bodies must make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions in school, including making sure that a policy for supporting pupils with medical conditions in school is developed and implemented. They should ensure that sufficient staff have received suitable training and are competent before they take on responsibility to support children with medical conditions.

Headteachers should ensure that their school’s policy is developed and effectively implemented with partners. This includes ensuring that all staff are aware of the policy for supporting pupils with medical conditions and understand their role in its implementation. Headteachers should ensure that all staff who need to know are aware of the child’s condition. They should also ensure that sufficient trained numbers of staff are available to implement the policy and deliver against all individual healthcare plans, including in contingency and emergency situations. This may involve recruiting a member of staff for this purpose. Headteachers have overall responsibility for the development of individual healthcare plans. They should also make sure that school staff are appropriately insured and are aware that they are insured to support pupils in this way. They should contact the school nursing service in the case of any child who has a medical condition that may require support at school, but who has not yet been brought to the attention of the school nurse.

Parents should provide the school with sufficient and up-to-date information about their child’s medical needs. They may in some cases be the first to notify the school that their child has a medical condition. Parents are key partners and should be involved in the development and review of their child’s individual healthcare plan, and may be involved in its drafting. They should carry out any action they have agreed to as part of its implementation, e.g. provide medicines and equipment and ensure they or another nominated adult are contactable at all times.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/638267/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions.pdff__)
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So going into school to administer medication is not a parent's responsibility.

Have you actually spoken to the school OP? At any point, have you heard from the Principal that children with long term health conditions are not able to access medication at school?

Sometimes it is pretty basic really. Staff: "This is getting ridiculous. I had six parents come in today telling me that I had to give their kids medicine if they were running a temperature. What if something goes wrong? I'm spending all of my lunch break running around the playground trying to find these kids and see if they need medicine. One seemed fine, but the mum yelled at me at pick up because I didn't give it to her.' Principal: "Well we shouldn't be giving non prescription medication to students anyway. Maybe put a note in the next newsletter that if they want their child to have medicine that they need to come in themselves.' Office staff member: 'Ok.' Newsletter goes out. Hysterical parent who reads the newsletter with a fine tooth comb trying to nit pick the shit out of it whinges that it's 'discrimination'.

I am surprised and disappointed you would post this, zzzzz. I have read your posts for many years on Mumsnet and would have thought you would be more empathetic and supportive. Why are you directing your disapproval at me?

So going into school to administer medication is not a parent's responsibility.

And neither is it the school's. Home tuition is the solution.

If parents prefer that to going into school then that's their choice.

Mild irritation that you value working parents time above SAHP time. Not mind shatteringly unusual but tedious.

I really don't. I am a SAHP myself. I just recognise how further barriers to being able to work can severely affects families financially and in turn a child's quality of life. Furthering attainment gaps.

My own child suffered illegal exclusion and not being given even adequate additional provision that was fully funded and that they were entitled to. I know how that can affect a child and family when not working. If I had not mentioned working parents would you have been more sympathetic?

People who say parents have no idea how VERY VERY short of money schools are id be intrigued to know how you know this?

Because as finance committee members for (only) 2 schools I can tell you they didn’t spend anything like their budgets, and despite constant cries of no money had more than enough available in their budgets. They simply didn’t check. We have no money has become such a war cry they believed it even when it wasn’t true.

No one on schook site understood finances or management accounts and those who outsourced it to the local authority or supplierwere left with poor and often unqualified accountant business partners who did very little for them and added little value.

Schools aren’t being run as they should. Im getting fed up being told they have no money. None of the teachers or SLT in my schools had any knowledge of the schools finances

Home tuition is the solution.

How very (un)inclusive of you....

Pleased for you, zzzzz. Shame the responses on here from teachers do not wholly reflect your experiences.

OP, tell me, have you had it confirmed by the head of your school, that children with long term medical needs are not having their medication administered at school? Not reading something in a newsletter, someone actually telling you that 'no, we will not administer prescribed medication for a diagnosed long term medical need'.

Well really, just to clarify the legal position, in terms of what a child can expect to receive from school, zzzz. Practice can vary so much so it is not strictly relevant. If a school refuses to administer medication it could put some parents in a very difficult position. So what should they do?

OP, tell me, have you had it confirmed by the head of your school, that children with long term medical needs are not having their medication administered at school? Not reading something in a newsletter, someone actually telling you that 'no, we will not administer prescribed medication for a diagnosed long term medical need'.

No, but I think the newsletter shouldn't be so disingenuous if what they state in it does conflict with school policy. It breaches trust.

And teachers on here have been stressing to point out schools have 'no legal obligation' to make provision for administering medicines....on reading the government guidelines I think this is incorrect. Claiming a lack of legal obligation is either a cynical statement made in order to deliberately gaslight the general public or shows a dangerous level of naivety.

How very (un)inclusive of you....How very uninclusive of a parent to not facilitate school attendance - the place is there but nursing care isn't.

How very uninclusive of a parent to not facilitate school attendance - the place is there but nursing care isn't.

This is not by choice for many parents! They have other serious commitments. How can you be so blind to this? To provide 'nursing care' to a school is far beyond many parents remit or abilities.

The wording that Wonky uses in the opening post, reads to me like a parent has complained a child isn't being given a medicine at a specific time probably because the school can't guarantee it so if they want the timing to be THAT specific they need to pop in and do it themselves otherwise staff will do it when they can.
For meds such as insulin I know of a couple of schools that have a specific TA allocated to diabetes.
Antibiotics I think there is some flex in when they are taken, although of course this may be linked into when the child is eating sometimes.
Inhalers again this doesn't have to be to the minute.
I think asking a number of people to plan their day to be free to do something for 1 child at a very fixed time is unreasonable, and the OP doesn't say the school wont do it at all, just that they cannot be too precise about when they will do it.