Medical, illness and accidents

Please ensure you email the school at absence@barnes.richmond.sch.uk on the first day of any absence before 8.45am, stating your child’s first name, initial of their surname and class in the subject line.

If your child has sickness (vomiting) or diarrhoea, you must keep them at home for 48 hours after their last episode.

It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school or nursery when they’re unwell. Please see the linked information from the NHS.

If your child is fit to return to school after an illness, but has been prescribed medicine by a doctor which needs to be finished, this can be given to them by a member of staff as long as an ad-hoc medication form is completed (the children need to have had completed 2 days worth of medicine before returning to school).

No medicine can be given without the completion of this form.

Ad-hoc (short-term) Medication form

Medicine must only be brought into school by an adult and for safety reasons we can only return it to an adult.

Over the counter medicines (such as ‘Calpol’ or cough medicine) cannot be given by members of staff.

Children should not be sent in with cough or throat sweets as these could pose a risk to other children.

Inhalers – children needing inhalers must have one in school in case of emergencies. However we can only give it to the child if the necessary documentation has been completed. 

Any children requiring regular or specific medication or care (such as an epipen), will have a Healthcare Plan drawn up and agreed by parents/carers, the school and the DWR manager, Charlotte Betts.  Please contact cbetts@barnes.richmond.sch.uk

A comprehensive register (Healthcare Log) of pupils with specific medical needs is maintained by Charlotte Betts, DWR Manager cbetts@barnes.richmond.sch.uk

Healthcare plan forms:

 Appendix D is used for prescribed medicines relating to medium or long term conditions, such as:

• Asthma
• Hayfever
• Mild to moderate allergies  

Appendix D/ADHOC is used for:

• Antibiotics – 2 days of medication must be taken before child returns to school
• Any other prescribed medicines
• Asthma (short term, viral and seasonal symptoms)
• Hayfever (short term, viral and seasonal symptoms)

Appendix A is used for conditions requiring a HEALTHCARE PLAN, as facilitated by the DWR Manager upon liaison with the relevant parent/carer:

• Allergies (moderate to severe and those requiring an EPIPEN)
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Medical conditions requiring specialist skills or longer term additional treatment

 Should medication be required as part of the Healthcare Plan, Appendix A must be accompanied by Appendix D

Please avoid taking your child out of school for a medical appointment where possible.

An email should be sent to the relevant office (KS1office@barnes.richmond.sch.uk or KS2office@barnes.richmond.sch.uk) detailing the appointment time and when you will be collecting and returning your child. It is important that children report to the office on their return so they can be marked back on site.

Sometimes children become ill while at school. If necessary the school will make every effort to contact a family member to come and collect the child.

The emergency contact numbers held on the school database are essential in these circumstances and it is very important that you remember to notify the school of any changes.

We have trained paediatric first aiders on the school staff, designated across all (EYFS, KS1 and KS2) phases. In addition, all staff attend annual INSET training in emergency first aid.

Sometimes children have accidents while at school. In these circumstances they will receive treatment in school. A note will go home with the child if it is felt that you should know the details of what has happened.

In the case of minor playground accidents, non-paediatric trained school staff will administer ice packs, clean wounds etc with clean water and apply sterile dressings, if necessary. Injuries requiring anything more will be immediately assessed by a paediatric first aider and further action taken as appropriate.

If further medical attention is required, you will be contacted.

We suggest that you seek further medical advice if they begin to display any of the following symptoms:

• Unconsciousness or lack of full consciousness – for example, problems keeping their eyes open
• Confusion – not knowing where they are or getting things muddled up
• Drowsiness – or feeling sleepy – that goes on for longer than 1 hour when they would normally be awake
• Difficulty waking them up
• Problems understanding or speaking
• Loss of balance or problems walking
• Any weakness in one or both arms or legs
• Any problems with their eyesight
• Any headache that won’t go away after simple painkillers
• Repeated vomiting
• Any fit, collapse or episode of passing out suddenly
• Bleeding or clear fluid coming from one or both ears
• New deafness in one or both ears

Please remain aware of these possible symptoms for at least 48 hours following the bump to the head and seek immediate medical advice if you are unsure.

If a child has bumped their head at school, they will be seen by a first aider and treated accordingly.  With head injuries it is necessary to take 5 and 10 minute observations, these will have been made by the first aider and any changes to their condition will have been recorded. Children with a head incident will have a letter go home with them to advise parents and carers.

Parents will be contacted if further medical attention is required.

We advise parents to provide sun hats and to apply sunscreen to children during hot sunny weather. 

Sunscreen must be applied before the child arrives at school.  Children must not bring any sun creams or lotions in to school.