Administering Short Term Medicines in School

  • No non-prescription medicine can be administered on school premises unless this forms part of a child’s individual healthcare plan that has been agreed by medical professionals.  This includes medicine such as Ibuprofen and Calpol.

  • The administration of medicines is primarily the responsibility of the child’s parent.  Wherever possible, parents should ensure that medicine is given to children before and after school.  If a doctor feels your child needs medication we encourage parents to ask for it to be prescribed on a three times a day basis so that this can be given outside of school hours. 

  • Prescription medicines will only be administered at school when it would be detrimental to a child’s health or school attendance not to do so.

  • In no circumstances will prescribed medication be administered without the prior written agreement of the parents or guardian.  Parents are responsible for completing the appropriate Medication in Schools form (which can be downloaded below) and for keeping the school updated with any change in their child’s medical requirements.  This will include providing details of the frequency and dosage of the medication and any side effects of the medication to be administered at school should be noted.  No medication will be administered without prior receipt of these forms. 

  • We will only accept prescribed medicines that are in-date, labelled, provided in the original container as dispensed by a pharmacist and include instructions for administration, dosage and storage.  The exception to this is insulin which must still be in date, but will generally be available inside an insulin pen or a pump, rather than in its original container.

  • The school will ensure the medication is administered under supervision and record the dose given to individual children, stating what, how and how much was administered, when and by whom. 

  • If a child refuses to take a medicine or carry out a necessary procedure, staff will not force a child to do so.  Parents will be informed immediately. 

  • When no longer required, medicines will be returned to the parent for safe disposal.  Sharps boxes should always be used for the disposal of needles and other sharps.

Hillcross Primary School, Ashridge Way, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4EE

020 8542 6936

info@hillcross.merton.sch.uk