PUPIL HEALTH

At various intervals during a child’s schooling, they are examined by the school doctor, nurses and dentist. If treatment is thought necessary, you will be notified to this effect.

There will be an annual dental screening inspection for all rising six year olds only. Any who do NOT attend a dentist regularly and need treatment will be helped to find a local dentist. All other children will bring home a letter each year encouraging their parents to take them regularly to a local family dentist. Treatment will be available from the Community Dental Service for any children who are not able to find a local dentist who will accept them as patients.

Both eyesight and hearing are tested and periodic checks on the condition of the hair are made. In addition to these, staff are requested to refer any child whom they believe might require treatment. We sometimes find it necessary to refer children to the Health Visitor because they have an unpleasant odour. It is both unpleasant for other children and the member of staff, but even worse for the child, as they are then teased by other children.

The school will have a minimum of two trained members of staff to administer first aid. These named people will have received training appropriate to the children and staff of a primary school. Staff will be trained if necessary in any procedures other than the issuing of tablets or medicines, and advice will be sought from the School Nurse. No painkillers are to be administered. The School Management and staff should act in accordance with the school’s health and safety policy guidelines at all times.

Would all parents please remember not to send any medicines or tablets into school with a child; they must be brought in by an adult who should then complete the appropriate authorisation form (available from the school office). Without completion of this form, the school cannot administer any form of medicine. If children have the small asthma inhalers, they will be encouraged to keep them in “bum bags” for easy access. If the child is too young, or the inhaler is of the larger variety, these items will be kept in the school office.

The two named persons will be responsible for checking any child thought to require any first aid other than the usual cut, graze or bruising. It will then be the Headteacher’s responsibility to decide any further action. Should a child require medical attention, the Headteacher will take the child to a doctor whilst the school contacts the parents.

CHILDREN’S ILLNESSES

Children suffering from one of following listed diseases must be excluded from school for the minimum period to recover:

ILLNESS MINIMUM PERIOD FOR EXCLUSION

Chicken Pox 6 days from onset of rash, or until the spots are dried
German Measles 4 days from onset of rash
Measles 7 days from onset of rash
Mumps Until swelling has subsided
Tonsillitis Until appropriate treatment has been given
Whooping Cough 21 days from onset of paroxysmal cough
Impetigo Until spots have healed or sores can be covered completely
Head Lice Until treatment is received
Verrucas Until treatment is received; no barefoot activities until treated
Athletes Foot Same treatment as verrucas
Ringworm Until adequate treatment is given or lesions are covered
Conjunctivitis Until treatment has begun

For information about the following less common diseases, please contact me before sending the child to school: dysentery, scabies, meningitis, tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio, typhoid, food poisoning, smallpox, and infective jaundice.

Your own doctor in the light of individual cases may change these instructions.

HEALTH EDUCATION

It is the aim of the school that every child should know how to apply the basic principles of health, hygiene and safety. They should have an understanding of how their body works and know the basic facts of sex and reproduction.

The school has an agreed Sex Education Policy, approved by the Governors, which is reviewed annually.

Although sex education will form part of the National Curriculum for all children, human reproduction will form part of the Year 5/6 topic work. It will be taught by a class teacher, aided by outside agencies, namely the Health Authority. There will be no written work, only discussion and explanations, with the use of books, talks and one particular video approved by the Governors. A letter of consent will be sent home for signing, and if you consider it appropriate for your child to be withdrawn from any sex education, other arrangements will be made.

Under the Health & Safety at Work Act, the County Council has responsibility to provide instruction, information, training and supervision for its staff, i.e. teachers etc., and they in turn pass on their knowledge and expertise in the course of their teaching. However, if a pupil consistently flouts the procedures laid down and explained by staff, and another person is injured or suffers damage to property as a result of such behaviour, the pupil, and not the LEA, may be held personally liable in any claim for compensation.


THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE

Aims

To achieve the best possible level of health for all children of school age in order that they may meet their full educational potential.

Objectives

To decrease preventable causes of ill health, e.g. accidents, infections, smoking etc.
To ensure that children are encouraged and enabled to take responsibility for their own health and well-being.

Every school has a fully trained, “named” School Nurse supported by the public health team. Our School Nurse is Mrs Anita White. The School Nurse is your first point of contact in the school on all health matters. She is responsible for assessing the health needs of the children and for implementing, facilitating and co-ordinating those needs. She conducts all health interviews shown in the programme below. She will maintain continuous and regular contact with parents, teachers and the School Medical Officer and will liaise with, and refer to, other professionals as appropriate. The School Nurse will be happy to be involved in the planning and delivery of co-ordinated health education programmes and her attendance at pastoral care meetings is offered, if required.

The School Secretary can give you information as to when the School Nurse will be attending the school, or alternatively, where she can be contacted.

School Health Programme

School Entry (usually second term) Health interview with child (optional parent attend) to identify health problems, including sweep hearing test, weight and height, and health advice, as appropriate.
Entry into secondary school Health interview (child & parent) including vision testing, weight and height and targeting health choices including healthy eating, exercise, smoking, personal hygiene and sexual development.
13-14 years Health interview (young person only)
School Year 9-10 encouraging personal responsibility for their own health and additional emotional and mental health issues.

At all these stages, a full medical examination may be offered for children selected after
consultation between the School Nurse and the School Doctor. For further advice, including
retests of hearing and vision, the child will be referred to the appropriate service. If
immunisations are not completed, the GP will be informed.