Medical Information
At Woodsetts Primary School, we want to make sure that we have the right information and arrangements in place to keep children safe and well while they are in school.
This page explains how parents and carers can tell us about a child’s long-term medical condition or allergy, how to complete an Individual Health Care Plan, and what to do when a child needs medication in school. We follow our WWPAT Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions, Medicines and Allergy Safety Policy. A copy can be found in our policies section.
When joining our school, it can be useful to complete the following Form 1 Initial Medical Needs Notification Form and speak to a member of our team. An online version of the form can be accessed here:
INITIAL MEDICAL NEEDS NOTIFICATION FORM (Form 1)
Paper copies are also available from our School Office.
Recording Medical Information on the Arbor App
Parents and carers can use the Arbor App to record important medical information about their child.
This section should be used to tell us about ongoing or long-term health needs, for example:
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Significant allergies
- Long-term medical conditions
- Other health needs that school should be aware of
It is not intended for occasional or short-term illnesses, such as a cold, sickness bug or other temporary illness.
In your Arbor App, first locate the "View Student Profile" section:
Then navigate to the "Add information" panel. From here you can click to add in allergy and medical info.
Please also speak to us
Adding information to Arbor is an important way of keeping your child’s records up to date, but please do not rely on updating the app alone. Please note: it is often easier to access this section of your child's Arbor profile using a desktop computer or laptop.
Whenever you add a significant medical condition, allergy or health need to Arbor, please also speak directly to a member of school staff or contact the school office.
This means that we can make sure the appropriate members of staff are aware and that any additional arrangements your child may need are put in place.
Once we are made aware of a medical condition or significant allergy, school will consider whether any additional arrangements, including an Individual Healthcare Plan, are required.
Does your child have a significant allergy?
If your child has a diagnosed or suspected significant allergy, please contact school directly as well as updating Arbor. We may need to put additional arrangements in place, including an Individual Healthcare Plan and/or Allergy Action Plan, and ensure that relevant staff and catering teams are aware of the necessary precautions.
Individual Health Care Plans
Some children with a long-term medical condition may require an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP).
An Individual Health Care Plan helps us to clearly record:
- Your child’s medical condition and needs
- Signs or symptoms staff need to be aware of
- Medication or treatment that may be required
- What staff should do in an emergency
- Any adjustments or support your child may require during the school day
- Important contact information
For example, a child with asthma, diabetes, epilepsy or a significant allergy may require an Individual Health Care Plan.
Please speak to us if you believe your child requires an Individual Health Care Plan so that we can make sure the necessary arrangements are understood and shared with the appropriate staff. It is always useful to create these with families together so that all necessary information and arrangements can be shared.
Where your child already has a clinical plan, such as an Asthma Plan, Allergy Action Plan or other specialist healthcare plan, please provide this to school so that it can be attached to or referenced within their Individual Healthcare Plan.
Please speak to a member of our Office Team to arrange a time to meet with relevant staff to complete one of these.
Children Carrying or Self-Administering Their Own Medication
For some children, it may be appropriate for them to carry and/or administer their own medication, for example an asthma inhaler.
This will always be considered on an individual basis, taking into account the child’s age, understanding, medical needs and ability to manage their medication safely.
Where this has been agreed with school, parents and carers will need to complete a Self-Carry / Self-Administration Agreement.
SELF-CARRY / SELF-ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT ONLINE (Form 7)
Paper copies are also available from the school office.
Please speak to a member of staff before completing this arrangement so that we can agree how the medication will be carried, stored and accessed safely, and make sure that relevant staff are aware.
Where a child carries their own inhaler, we will also encourage families to provide a spare inhaler to be held in school where possible, so that it remains quickly accessible if needed.
Completing the form does not automatically mean that a child will be able to carry or self-administer medication. The arrangement must be agreed with school and reviewed if the child’s needs or circumstances change.
Short course of prescribed medication, such as antibiotics.
Where medication needs to be administered during the school day, parents and carers should complete our medication consent form.
ONLINE PARENTAL CONSENT TO ADMINISTER MEDICATION (Form 3)
Paper copies are also available from the school office.
When bringing medication into school, please hand it directly to a member of staff and speak to them about the arrangements.
Please do not send medication into school with your child without first speaking to us.
School-Purchased Paracetamol (Calpol)
Woodsetts Primary School holds a small supply of school-purchased children’s paracetamol (Calpol) which, in certain circumstances, can be administered to a child at a parent or carer’s request and where the appropriate permission has been provided.
This is intended to support children who may develop a minor ache, pain or discomfort during the school day but are otherwise well enough to remain in school.
For example, this may be helpful where a parent or carer is unable to come into school themselves to administer paracetamol because of work or other commitments.
We will always contact you first
Paracetamol will not be administered routinely or automatically.
Before giving school-purchased paracetamol, a member of staff will contact a parent or carer to discuss the child’s symptoms and confirm that they are happy for it to be given. This also allows us to check important information, including whether the child has already received any paracetamol or other medication that day.
Parents and carers must also have provided the relevant permission through the Arbor App before school-purchased paracetamol can be administered.
This is not intended to keep an unwell child in school
The availability of paracetamol is not intended to enable children who are unwell to remain in school when they would be better cared for at home.
If we have any concerns about a child’s wellbeing, or feel that their symptoms suggest they are too unwell to remain in school, we will always contact parents or carers to discuss this.
The child’s wellbeing will always come first and, where there is any doubt, we will speak to you before deciding on the most appropriate course of action.
Keeping Us Informed
It is extremely important that school has accurate and up-to-date information about any medical condition, allergy, medication or treatment that may affect your child while they are in our care.
Please let us know as soon as possible if:
- Your child is diagnosed with a new medical condition
- An existing condition changes
- Medication or dosage changes
- Your child no longer requires medication
- An allergy is identified or changes
- An Individual Health Care Plan needs updating
You can update relevant information through the Arbor App, but please also speak to school whenever there is a significant change to your child’s medical needs.
Need any help?
Please contact the school office if you are unsure which form you need or would like support completing any of the information above.
We are always happy to work with families to make sure that children with medical needs can access school safely, confidently and with the appropriate support in place.
