Health Care
The school is under the care of a community nurse who is based at a local Health Centre and can be contacted via the school office.
Please inform us if a child has a medical or dental appointment during the school day so that it can be noted in the register. Children must be collected or delivered back to school via the school office where they will be signed in or out.
We request that any child who has experienced sickness or diarrhoea does not return to school until at least 24 hours after the last episode of sickness or diarrhoea in order to reduce the possibility of spreading infection further. Thank you for your co-operation in this. Your doctor will be able to advise you of any other illness/infection which would require your child to be kept off school.
Emergency contact
In the event of illness or accident, it is essential that we are able to contact either a parent, carer, other relative or other responsible adult. Any changes in contact details should be notified, as soon as possible, to the school office.
The majority of support staff and midday supervisors are first aid trained and any child who is ill or injured will receive an initial assessment by a trained member of staff. Any child visiting the first aid room will receive a slip to give to their parents. Parents will be contacted if a child needs to go home or receive further treatment from a doctor. If there is a medical emergency the school will call the ambulance service and contact the parents/carers of the child. The school does not have suitable facilities for looking after sick children.
Medicines in school
School staff cannot administer routine medication such as antibiotics and paracetamol during the school day. If medication has to be administered then it is the parent’s responsibility to make arrangements for the medicine to be administered by either coming to school and giving it personally to their child or by delegating that responsibility to another named adult (relative, child minder etc.)
Medication can only be administered by school staff in the following circumstances:
- That it is necessary to preserve life e.g. allergic reactions, asthma, diabetes;
- That the condition requiring medication is ongoing and requires immediate treatment to prevent it worsening e.g. hayfever, migraine.
In both cases the medication can only be administered if:
- The medication is accompanied by a doctor’s/parent’s note;
- The parent takes responsibility for the delivery/collection of the medicine to/from school, its replacement and checking that the medicine is in date;
- All medication must be given to school in its original packaging with the child’s name on a pharmacy label (if a prescription medicine).
- Parents must complete a consent form which is then lodged with the school secretary.
- The above also apply to any medication taken on educational visits.
Further details of the school’s policy on the administration of medication is available from the Headteacher.
Health Education
All children participate in a health education programme during their years at Bar Hill School. This is part of the Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship programme.
The governing body has a responsibility to ensure that sex and relationship education takes place. This takes place within a broad health education programme, which includes input from the school nurse. For younger children it takes place within projects on topics such as growth, learning about ourselves etc and incidentally as opportunities arise e.g. the arrival of a new baby, responding to questions etc.
A more formal approach is included in Years 5 and 6 and is supported by the use of video programmes and the involvement of the school nurse. Parents will be informed when these sessions take place and are invited to preview the programmes if they wish to do so. Parents may withdraw their children from these sessions after informing the Headteacher. A copy of the school’s policy is available on request.
Locality Team
As a school we receive the support services of a Locality Team which is based in Swavesey Village College. The main aim of this team is to work in partnership with schools, parents and other services in a preventative way and to share information in order to enable every child to reach their full potential. If, therefore, you have particular concerns about your child e.g. about health, emotional, social or learning needs please contact the Headteacher who will then make an assessment as to whether a referral to the Locality Team is appropriate.
A key post in the Locality Team is that of Education Welfare Officer (EWO) whose function is to support the school in ensuring that all children attend regularly and punctually. The EWO monitors lateness and occasionally conducts audits of attendance in liaison with the school. The EWO may also act in a liaison capacity building up relationships between the school, family and child and the education department. She will support, explain and advise on a range of issues that may be preventing a child from attending or enjoying school. The EWO may also be able to advise on the availability of free school meals, uniform grants and maintenance grants.
Parent Support Advisor
Since September 2007 we have hosted the local Parent Support Advisor (Tish Cracknell) who is available every Friday in the community lounge between 8:45 and 10:00. All parents are welcome to contact her if they need advice or support. Further information is available from the school office. Termly coffee multi-agency meetings are held in the community lounge.
Child Protection
It may be helpful for parents/carers to know that the law (The Children Act, 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from non-accidental injury, neglect, emotional or sexual abuse. The staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer and, where possible, seek their consent to a referral to social services. This will not be done where such discussion and agreement-seeking would not place the child at increased risk of significant harm. Schools are encouraged to be very cautious and seek advice from Social Services if there is concern for a child’s safety. Occasionally this duty on Headteachers means that a concern is passed on which is later shown to be unfounded. It is hoped that parents/carers will appreciate how difficult it is for schools to carry out this delicate responsibility and accept that the Headteacher must sometimes act in good faith and in the best interests of all children.
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