Health Needs Policy including School Procedures
Approved by: Local Governing Committee Approved on: 6th July 2023
Review date: July 2024
Originator(s): JBL
A number of pupils may experience difficulties in maintaining continuity of education because of health issues at some time during their school career. These issues may be short or long-term, to which St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School needs to respond in order to ensure that all pupils access their statutory entitlement to education. St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School is committed to promoting inclusion, equality of opportunity and continuity of education for pupils with health needs. This policy applies to pupils who are temporarily unable to attend school because of illness, injury, anxiety and identified mental health problems.
The purpose of this policy is to reflect and to confirm Newcastle City Council’s statutory duties in accordance with:
• Section 19 of the 1996 Education Act which states that Local Authorities have a duty to ‘make arrangements for the provision of suitable education at school or otherwise than at school for those children of compulsory school age who by reason of illness, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them.’
• The Children and Families Act 2012 which places a duty on schools to make arrangements for children with medical conditions. Pupils with medical conditions have the same right of admission to school as other children and cannot be refused admission or excluded from school on medical grounds alone. Teachers and other school staff in charge of pupils have a common law duty to act ‘in loco parentis’ and must ensure the safety of all pupils in their care.
• DfE Statutory Guidance December 2015 – ‘Ensuring a good education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs.’
• Equality Act 2010.
2. Shared Roles and Responsibilities
Ensuring access to education for pupils with health needs is the responsibility of the Local Authority and St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School.
2.1 The Local Authority
The council will make sure:
• your child gets as normal an education as possible if they're going to be away from school for a long time. This could include arranging home teaching, a hospital school or teaching service, or a combination of home and hospital teaching
• your child continues to get a full-time education - unless part time is better for their health needs
• your child isn’t without access to education for more than 15 school days
• education is arranged from the start of your child’s absence if it’s clear they’re going to be away from school for long and recurring periods
Newcastle Bridges School is an alternative provision academy that specifically provides for children who can’t attend mainstream school because of illness, injury or a medical condition, including those receiving treatment in hospital.
The impact of your child being absent from school on a regular basis
Absence means:
• Missing out on coursework and it can be very hard to catch up.
• Losing touch with friends and teaching staff.
• Finding it more difficult to have a successful future after leaving school.
• Having more opportunities to become involved in crime and anti-social behaviour either as victim or perpetrator.
• You could be fined or prosecuted and may get a criminal record.
Forms of help could include accessing support from other agencies and services such as:
• support to reduce the burden on children where families are in difficulty (for example if a child is spending a lot of time caring for someone)
• working with you and your child to overcome bullying and other serious problems
• working with you to develop parenting skills and strategies to help manage your child’s behaviour
• a parenting contract
2.2 The Schools Responsibilities
St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School has a responsibility to:
have a clear policy and a named person responsible for pupils who are unable to attend school because of health needs.
Named person is Miss J Blackie (Assistant Head Teacher)
nominate a governor responsible for reviewing the procedures that apply to educating pupils with health needs.
Named Governor is Mrs V. Douglas
• ensure that the pupil remains on the school roll
• establish guidelines for school staff on maintaining meaningful contact with pupils and parents when a pupil is absent through health needs
• seek confirmation of ill health and make reasonable adjustments to maintain continuity of access to education refer pupils to Newcastle Bridges School if the pupil is, or is likely to be, absent from school for more than 15 school working days because of health needs
• work in partnership with Newcastle Bridges School to provide information about the pupil’s strengths and needs
• provide Newcastle Bridges School with robust work plans to ensure continuity of progress
• facilitate appointments with key teachers and/or subject specialists
• Share information to maintain an up-to-date record of the pupil’s progress
• liaise regularly with Newcastle Bridges School to monitor provision, review progress and support reintegration
• ensure pupils have access to public examinations
• ensure that the needs of pupils with a statement of Special Educational Needs or EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) are met
• ensure that the views of students and parent/carers are considered
• maintain a regular review system
• make reasonable adjustments to maintain good attendance and progress once the child has resumed attendance at school
• pupils with a serious medical need will have their information shared with relevant staff
• school staff will liaise with healthcare professionals and services in order to access the most up to date advice about a pupil’s medical/health need
• Individual healthcare plans will be written, monitored and reviews regularly – at a minimum annually.
2.3 Parents and Carers
The prime responsibility for a child’s health lies with the parent and/or carers, who is responsible for the child’s medication and must supply the school with all relevant information needed in order for proficient care to be given to the child. The school takes advice and guidance from a range of
sources, including the school nurse, health professionals and information provided by parent/carer in the first instance. This enables us to ensure that we assess and manage risk and minimise disruption to the learning of the child.
It is expected that parents/carers will;
• inform school of any medical condition which affects their child
• supply school with appropriately prescribed medication, where the dosage information and regime is clearly printed by a pharmacy on the container
• ensure that medicines in school are in date and clearly labelled
• co-operate in training their child to self-administer medicine if this is appropriate
3. Administration of Medicines
Only essential medicines will be administered during the school day. These will be only those prescribed by a doctor. Non prescribed medication must be presented to school in the original box and with instructions. Parents/carers must give appropriate written permission before any medication is administered.
Essential medicines will be administered on Educational Visits, subject to conditions above.
Before administering any medication, staff must check that the medicine belongs to the child, check that the dosage they are giving is correct and that written permission has been obtained. Any child refusing to take medicine in school will not be made to do so and parents will be informed about the dosage missed.
All medicines will be stored safely. Medicines needing refrigeration will be stored in the Medical Room fridge. Some medicines (inhalers, EpiPen’s) will be kept in clearly labelled containers in the Main Office, but all pupils will be encouraged to have their own with them at all times. All pupils with an inhaler and/or EpiPen must take them on educational visits, however short the duration.
EpiPen – any member of staff can administer an EpiPen in an emergency. The pen (cap off) should be pushed against the child’s thigh (through clothing) and held for a count of 3 seconds (10 seconds for Jext) before being withdrawn. Ambulances must be called for a child who may require an EpiPen. This must be done immediately. Parents/carers should be contacted after this call has been made. A Sharps bin is in the Medical Room for the safe disposal of EpiPens/Jext pens.
Medical information is to be shared with Assistant Heads of House and Heads of House who are to check in with pupils monthly. Heads of House are to share medical information with Form Tutors. Assistant Heads of House and Heads of House will be informed as and when there are changes to medical information. Primarily, responsibility lies with parents and carers to inform and update school of medical information.
4. Monitoring and Evaluating
St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School’s policy will be reviewed and revised at least every 3 years. The named person in school will report annually to the Governing Body. This report will contribute to the school’s selfevaluation of our provision for pupils with health needs.
Appendices – Process for developing individual healthcare plans
