The school has a fully qualified nurse on duty in the Medical Centre during school hours who will deal with all medical issues. A number of other members of Junior School staff are first-aid trained.

 

When to Keep Pupils at Home

Pupils who might need individual care should be kept at home. Pupils who are not fully recovered are more vulnerable in a school environment and should remain at home until fit. Pupils should not be sent to school if clearly unwell, as indicated by the presence of a raised temperature, fever, loss of colour, pain, or when other obvious symptoms are present. If a pupil is sent to school and is clearly unwell, we will make contact with you and ask you to collect your child. Sometimes fatigue can be a factor with younger pupils. If you feel that your child's needs are better served by resting at home, please follow your instinct and keep your child at home.

 

COVID-19

For the latest Government advice go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19- information-for-the-public

Please call the absence line before 8.30am on the first day of absence. When your child returns to school they should bring a letter from you explaining his absence which will be kept in their file.

 

Control of Infectious Conditions

We follow the ‘Infectious Control Guidelines for Schools’ as published by the Health Authority Communicable Disease Team. Pupils who have been diagnosed with an infectious illness by their doctor should remain off school until they cease to be infectious and feel well enough to return to their studies. Your family doctor will advise regarding the duration of exclusion, but it will be in line with the Health Authority guidelines. The Headmaster reserves the right to require pupils to be absent for a period consistent with Health Authority Guidelines.

Pupils who have experienced a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea should not be returned to school until a period of 48 hours has elapsed since the last episode.

It is unlikely that your child will go through school (any school!) without coming into contact with head lice. We always inform parents when these pests are present and outbreaks are usually short-lived. We will ask the parents of the pupil concerned to take their child home and ensure an effective treatment is administered before their child returns to school.

 

Illness at School

Pupils who feel unwell during the course of the day will be removed from the class environment and transferred to the Medical Centre. If medical staff believe a pupil should be sent home, they will return to the Junior School Reception to await collection by parents.

If your child displays any symptoms of COVID-19 you will be contacted immediately to collect them and follow government guidelines.

 

Medicines at School

Before your child starts in the Junior School, we request that all medical information is included on a medical consent form. It is particularly important that school is aware of any potential anaphylactic or other reaction to allergens. Equally, we need to know of all pupils requiring inhalers to help control asthma.

We request that all pupils requiring epipens for potential anaphylactic reactions have two in-date devices in school. One epipen is kept in the Medical Centre, the other in the Junior School Office. When pupils prescribed an epipen are taken off site, for instance on a school fixture, the epipen is taken as a precaution by accompanying staff. All Junior School staff are trained in the use of epipens.

Pupils needing to use medicines during the school day, e.g. to complete a course of antibiotics, will be asked to take their medicines to the Medical Centre and to report to medical staff at the appropriate times. Teachers are not permitted to administer medicines unless acting in loco parentis whilst on a residential trip.

If parents indicate a medical condition on an expedition medical consent form, the child must have that medication for the expedition or trip. If they do not have the medication, they will not be allowed to go with the party. For example, a pupil who is recorded as asthmatic and who needs an inhaler would not be allowed to go if they did not have their inhaler with them before departure.

 

Sun Protection

In sunny weather, pupils should have a school cap in school each day. A plain blue cap may also be worn. Parents should apply suncream before school and, if they wish, send their child with suncream for them to reapply later. All pupils need sun protection as they are out on the fields during the Summer term both at Break and Lunch. Protection is particularly important on the days when pupils have PE, Games or outside after school activities.

 

Accidents

Accidents Resulting in Minor Injury

Pupils who receive minor injuries such as cuts and grazes will be given attention by the school nurse or by a first aider at school. The treatment will follow guidelines as laid out for first aid treatment and will typically involve an initial evaluation followed by simple cleaning and covering of the wound.

A view will be taken by the school as to whether parents should be contacted immediately. Pupils who have received treatment will be given a note where appropriate, to take home so that parents are informed about the treatment.

 

Accidents Resulting in Serious injury

Pupils who receive injuries that are assessed by the school to be serious will be stabilised by the school nurse or an appointed person and either:

• an ambulance will be requested if the injury is severe; or
• parents will be called in to take the pupil to hospital; or
• in certain circumstances the pupil might be taken to hospital by a teacher.

A member of staff will accompany pupils to hospital in the absence of the parents. Parents will be contacted as soon as possible in all cases.

 

Hospital Treatment

Parents are always contacted when hospital treatment of any kind is required by a pupil. In circumstances where a medical procedure is required, consent is sought from parents. If parents cannot be contacted the supervising teacher will exercise their power to authorise any medical treatment for the pupil which is advised by a qualified medical practitioner.