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Secondary education

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Original poster

Lost controlled medication!

52 replies

mummybug355 · 02/07/2025 16:28

My child had their first settling in session today and I'm feeling so failed already and worried about how secondary education is going to go.
I'm so angry as well. They are on ADHD medication that is a controlled drug it was handed into reception this morning and they failed to give it to them and failed to check up on it when they mentioned to a teacher that they weren't given any. Upon talking to a teacher they have failed to find the meds and have no idea where it has gone. Who does this need reporting to? This is a class B drug without a prescription and they have no idea where it is! On day one I'm so scared about how failed my child will be if this is the start

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 02/07/2025 16:40

I don’t understand why your child didn’t take their meds before school? Rather than putting the responsibility on the school to administer a controlled drug? And surely it would make more sense to just take that day’s dose into school rather than all of them??

I suggest you give the school time to find the meds. They’ve probably been put somewhere for safekeeping and it’s a little soon to start panicking and talking about reporting.

Cappuccino5 · 02/07/2025 16:45

This is a conversation for the school nurse, not reception staff. You should never have left it with them in the first place. Looking after medication or giving it out is not their job whatsoever and it is ridiculous to place the blame on them for this reason. A plan should’ve been agreed in advance and the onus would’ve been on you as the parent to arrange this. For the sake of a day surely your DS could’ve looked after his own medication?

Hannahpandle · 02/07/2025 16:45

HundredMilesAnHour · 02/07/2025 16:40

I don’t understand why your child didn’t take their meds before school? Rather than putting the responsibility on the school to administer a controlled drug? And surely it would make more sense to just take that day’s dose into school rather than all of them??

I suggest you give the school time to find the meds. They’ve probably been put somewhere for safekeeping and it’s a little soon to start panicking and talking about reporting.

Missing the point by MILES.

ApolloandDaphne · 02/07/2025 16:45

I agree that you need to give them time to locate the medication and sort out how they plan to administer it in future. Does your DC not have some responsibility to go and ask when it is time for it to be administered? I wouldn't imagine it to be easy to track down a child in a large secondary school to administer medication at the correct time. What is the usual schedule?

Hannahpandle · 02/07/2025 16:48

Any adhd parent will be sweating in sympathy with you. The bloody hoops you have to jump through to get this medication is insane. And then school lost it.

Wishiwasatailor · 02/07/2025 16:49

@HundredMilesAnHour many adhd medications need to be taken twice a day at breakfast and lunch. @mummybug355 did exactly the right thing providing the medication in its original box with the dispensing label. To do otherwise would be strictly against most schools medicine management policies.
@mummybug355 thats terrible and I would be asking to see their medicine management policy and also be speaking to the sendco in how this a happened. It's probably tucked in a drawer in reception.

Vivienne1000 · 02/07/2025 16:50

Schools are chaotic, everyone is overworked and they are vastly understaffed. Support staff are expected to juggle an awful lot. Reception can be bedlam. But let’s look at your responsibilty here.
For some reason, parents and the NHS feel they can load more responsibility onto schools. Why don’t you give your child his meds before school and then if necessary, again after school. Are you aware how many pupils with special medical needs now go to secondary schools? Are you aware how many pupils there are with ADHD who require medication?
I think you need to rethink your routine and also the expectations. Schools get zero funding for medical needs.

Donotgogentle · 02/07/2025 16:54

Presumably the Op’s dc has to take a dose during the school day, some ADHD meds are short acting.

Op - I’d ask your gp for a new prescription. As it’s a controlled drug that will probably raise a flag but if you haven’t done that before I doubt they’ll suspect medicines abuse.

Chaotica · 02/07/2025 16:56

You're getting a hard time for this OP and it isn't deserved. Presumably, this was arranged ahead of time with the school. The medicine is probably not really lost, just displaced, but it needs finding quickly. Do you have a SEND contact, or a form tutor or head of year who can look into it for you?

Original poster
mummybug355 · 02/07/2025 16:56

Medication is to be given morning and afternoon. It was given in box and handed to reception as I was told to. I called and asked about this last week and the primary school did also. The box is given in as it has their name and label to show it is given to the person it is supposed to. They have searched for at least an hour today and have been unable to locate it. I have been told they pulled the rooms apart that it could be in. Sendco have no idea how this happend apparently. I'm feeling so let down already.

OP posts:
Donotgogentle · 02/07/2025 16:56

Cappuccino5 · 02/07/2025 16:45

This is a conversation for the school nurse, not reception staff. You should never have left it with them in the first place. Looking after medication or giving it out is not their job whatsoever and it is ridiculous to place the blame on them for this reason. A plan should’ve been agreed in advance and the onus would’ve been on you as the parent to arrange this. For the sake of a day surely your DS could’ve looked after his own medication?

No - a child cannot be wandering around school with controlled medication. Op did the right thing handing it in.

WFHmutha25 · 02/07/2025 16:57

This is a conversation for the school nurse, not reception staff. You should never have left it with them in the first place. Looking after medication or giving it out is not their job whatsoever and it is ridiculous to place the blame on them for this reason

In my last school the school got rid of the nurse due to lack of funds and the office staff had to take over the role. Medication was indeed handed into reception and given out by reception. It was a shit show. We were way too busy and inadequately trained to do this.

Wishiwasatailor · 02/07/2025 16:59

@Vivienne1000 adhd meds are a balancing act and are given twice a day if a once a day dose doesn't have a lasting effect. Is it more disruptive to have children have their carefully prescribed medication that enables them to learn given whilst at school or to let their adhd symptoms increase after lunch hindering their learning opportunities and potentially that of their classmates? Yes many children require meds that is why schools need to have robust protocols in dealing with medications. You wouldn't deny a child with epilepsy their afternoon dose

Original poster
mummybug355 · 02/07/2025 16:59

My DC also did mention they haven't been given their meds and nothing was done about it

OP posts:
CraftyNavySeal · 02/07/2025 17:00

Vivienne1000 · 02/07/2025 16:50

Schools are chaotic, everyone is overworked and they are vastly understaffed. Support staff are expected to juggle an awful lot. Reception can be bedlam. But let’s look at your responsibilty here.
For some reason, parents and the NHS feel they can load more responsibility onto schools. Why don’t you give your child his meds before school and then if necessary, again after school. Are you aware how many pupils with special medical needs now go to secondary schools? Are you aware how many pupils there are with ADHD who require medication?
I think you need to rethink your routine and also the expectations. Schools get zero funding for medical needs.

Why would they take ADHD medication after school? That completely defeats the purpose of it, it’s so they can concentrate IN school. It works for set periods of time.

Children are legally required to attend school and some children also require medication at set times throughout the school day. If schools cannot ensure that children have their medical needs met then they shouldn’t force kids to be there.

Original poster
mummybug355 · 02/07/2025 17:05

@Vivienne1000 the doctors have prescribed medication for set timings so you expect me to say nahh that don't work for me I'll let them take it whenever. My expectations are don't lose the meds and let them be taken when they are needed to be. You cannot just wandered around with meds in school. I followed exactly what they told me to do.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 02/07/2025 17:08

Their should be a system in place for giving out medication. The school sounds chaotic. But give them time to find it

leopardprint17 · 02/07/2025 17:09

Id be concerned OP and I would want answers, not for punishment etc but they obviously need to tighten things up. Methylphenidate/dexamphetamine can be so dangerous in the wrong hands, especially in a secondary school!

geoger · 02/07/2025 17:10

I really hope the school find the meds. I know this isn’t the correct procedure but our dc take their controlled meds - one tablet - into school in a little pill box (they only need one top up during the day). They have an alarm set to vibrate on their phone to remind them and we send a text too. This works far better than relying on the school.
And yes we are fully aware this is not following procedures but I would never rely on school to do this

BrentfordForever · 02/07/2025 17:12

@mummybug355 my dear i feel for you

my child was given double the medication at school (Medikinet at that time) and when I flagged they tried to make a joke 🤔

that was in a private school where they were bragging about SEN .. we left that school since then

all I can say is raise nicely… bet you they won’t do it again

Chaotica · 02/07/2025 17:16

geoger · 02/07/2025 17:10

I really hope the school find the meds. I know this isn’t the correct procedure but our dc take their controlled meds - one tablet - into school in a little pill box (they only need one top up during the day). They have an alarm set to vibrate on their phone to remind them and we send a text too. This works far better than relying on the school.
And yes we are fully aware this is not following procedures but I would never rely on school to do this

My DS takes his own meds in (although these are not controlled substances). But he is slightly older. I would not want a Y7 (or Y6 on transfer day?) doing this.

columnatedruinsdomino · 02/07/2025 17:17

How does it work normally in secondary school? Does the student make their way to the medical room/reception at a specified time? Or did DS expect someone to come and get him? You did everything you were told to do but there has been a cock-up somewhere. I would imagine all medication makes its way to a locked dispensing room (like my dd's school) and this is where students go to get it. My dd's EpiPen got lost once, I handed it to reception and they took it to the medical bay only to find it was locked. They left it outside and someone else thought it was dangerous and took it to a 'safe' place then forgot to tell anyone. It was found a day later. I wasn't happy so I can imagine how you feel op.

BrentfordForever · 02/07/2025 17:18

leopardprint17 · 02/07/2025 17:09

Id be concerned OP and I would want answers, not for punishment etc but they obviously need to tighten things up. Methylphenidate/dexamphetamine can be so dangerous in the wrong hands, especially in a secondary school!

whoever finds these will ace homework tonight 🤣🤣🤣

sorry OP not funny at all, I make all sorts of jokes about DS’s meds (who btw tried all stimulants on the market 😎)

Teenybub · 02/07/2025 17:21

I would be concerned too OP. You did the right thing handing it in to be administered, at my school that is the correct process. Our reception staff are the ones that would
administer it as we don’t have a school nurse. Ignore the negative comments from people with no understanding of ADHD, controlled medication and schools. I wonder if they would have the same response if it was medication for a physical issue.

I would also flag up the fact a box is missing which could be found be another student which is a danger, but also it contains your child’s personal information which could be a GDPR issue.

BrentfordForever · 02/07/2025 17:22

columnatedruinsdomino · 02/07/2025 17:17

How does it work normally in secondary school? Does the student make their way to the medical room/reception at a specified time? Or did DS expect someone to come and get him? You did everything you were told to do but there has been a cock-up somewhere. I would imagine all medication makes its way to a locked dispensing room (like my dd's school) and this is where students go to get it. My dd's EpiPen got lost once, I handed it to reception and they took it to the medical bay only to find it was locked. They left it outside and someone else thought it was dangerous and took it to a 'safe' place then forgot to tell anyone. It was found a day later. I wasn't happy so I can imagine how you feel op.

Controlled drugs are double locked

kid must go get (how on earth do adhd kids remember to go get them I have no clue) - that’s where slow release come handy