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.

Wasn't going to post but here goes. The school should have a policy called 'supporting children with medical conditions' (or some variation of that) - ask for a copy. It might even be on their website.

Until last year I was the member of staff that administered medication in my school (primary). All medication for children with long term conditions could be given by all members of staff (we all have regular epipen, and epilepsy medication training - we haven't had a child in school with diabetes or any other illness that would require specific training for a long time but if we did we would be trained). All staff do a 1 day first aid training and a handful of staff do a 3 day course.

Last year I had 3 complaints by parents made against me. I decided to withdraw my offer of administering medication that wasn't long term. If a child with a long standing medical condition needed medication of course I would do it. Antibiotics or anything on a short term basis - no. I'm not a teacher, I earn a ridiculously shit wage. I am not prepared to put my job on the line because I was 15 minutes late giving some antibiotics (because I was dealing with a head injury, that's ok little Timmy - you just bleed away and I'll pop back when I've given Tarquin his medicine). The other two complaints were similar. No children were harmed just school life got in the way (administering medication was a tiny part of my job).

Luckily I work in an environment where I was supported by the SMT and despite one set of parents escalating the complaint to the governors I still have a job. The school has also managed to find another staff member to agree to do it although we now only administer prescribed medication that is needed 4 times a day. (Except for children with long term conditions obviously).

This is why schools are reticent to give medication. Can you blame them?

Then I'm lucky to live where I do and patients are supported by medical professionals.

The medical team looking after to me have been extremely supportive. I have been treated very well so far by the NHS. Especially considering the current funding crisis.

Out of interest which medicines for a cut are needed 2 and 3 hourly? I can fully understand School not wanting to take that on as a short term thing!

Cherrycokewinning
I could and would use an epi pen if needed (bevause they are designed so anyone can do it)

What i was meaning is I've seen so many silly complaints and some parents out for blood over tiny things that if ny school said 'Maisy, would you be willing to train up as thr medicine person?' my answer would be no

children with additional medical needs are being routinely discriminated against.
That's not what you said for the start of the post where you were bothered about working parnets and claiming schools were discriminating against working parents.

I absolutely love the fact that you actually think you have enough knowledge to claim pupils with medical needs are routinely discriminated against.

Will there be some poor procedures? Yes. Do they need challenging where they exist? Yes.
Does that mean someone with a bad experience can start claiming routine discrimination? No

MayhapsIAm
Your experience outlines exactly why i won't train to be the medical person.

It's worth remembering that the title refers to specific times. And the first big issue of the thread was how disruptive and discrininatory the newsletter was to working parents.

There's a lot of hot air following on like schools are gaslighting and now (largely after people have said short term meds and long tern care are different) suddenly pupils with medical needs are discriminated against.

It's absolutely 'i had an experience and now want to make some generalisations and fume about a situation in a diverse sector'.

I absolutely love the fact that you actually think you have enough knowledge to claim pupils with medical needs are routinely discriminated against.

The posts on here by teachers alone would suggest this. The fact that a newsletter W was able to be published would suggest this. The NASUWT 'Action Short of Strike' would suggest this. Basically the fact that an insidious, pervading mindset amongst educational professionals, which shows a lack of care and concern over children with additional needs and their families, is so obviously in the Zeitgeist, suggests this. Otherwise people would not so casually post the things they have or publish newsletters such as the one I mentioned. The offensive nature of these doing these things I have mentioned should be obvious.

And yet when parents say the same about their experience you respond by dismissing them as an anomaly and insisting funding is not relevant? Tell me why did you feel the need to defend the care you have received?

I have not dismissed you experiences as an anomaly, zzzzz. I merely said that our experiences are different. I simply told the truth about the cancer care I have received on the NHS.

And surely if the NHS can treat people well, despite current funding crises, so can schools?

In fact, if you have received good, kind, caring treatment from schools, zzzzz why should this not be available to all children and their parents? And as a result this kindness and care be reflected in school newsletters.

Yes, and many on this thread with children who has medical needs said they are getting a great treatment from their own school. Yet you keep banging on about school and staff are not doing their job.

But have you actually had an experience of School refusing to support A pupils long term medical needs?

Other people have have experienced the mindset I mention on here, though, zzzzz. Posters on here have illustrated that mindset in their posts. The mindset, I mention, can be present whether you, personally, experience it or not, zzzzz

I don't need to have. Sirzy. Others on here have experienced it.

Just reread the thread Sirzy.

I have read the thread. Your obviously reading a very different one to anyone else though

Not 'anyone' else, Sirzy. Several posters have agreed with my posts and posted in support of them. It is why the thread is getting lengthy. Every time people do this, the same teachers wade in in an attempt to discredit me and my posts.

I’m not a teacher either. Unlike you I am a parent who has direct experience of the exact opposite of what you are saying!

I am also a parent who would much prefer any member of school staff held their hands up and said “actually I am not confident to deal with that” to allow an alternative plan to be put in place than to just plod along not sure what they are doing. Just like I have been more than happy to go in and give a “second opinion” because they understand o know things better.

I’m not a teacher
Other posters have claimed to be teachers zzzzz. You appear to be admitting, by posting this, in reply to my last post, to purposely attempting to discredit me and my posts, though.

I am also a parent who would much prefer any member of school staff held their hands up and said “actually I am not confident to deal with that” to allow an alternative plan to be put in place than to just plod along not sure what they are doing. Just like I have been more than happy to go in and give a “second opinion” because they understand o know things better.

There is only so far this excuse goes though. I have been the parent who was 'required' to 'volunteer' on every single school trip and outing, to apparently supervise my child with additional needs (who was absolutely no bother), even though they had a fully funded dedicated LSA. I did this with providing supervision for a whole swimming class. This was in order to cover what teachers apparently 'couldn't' do. For several years. It showed, though, it was entirely possible to do this without any special training either. Which is how I managed to eventually ensure the teaching staff did actually get more involved. Parents shouldn't have to do what I did. Many can't.

Along with providing. Typo omission.