With the help of the School Staff, the School Nurse monitors the health of the pupil body and the Staff very closely. The School Nurse will be quick to communicate any community-wide issues, drawing on Health Authority guidance where necessary.
If we are sufficiently concerned about a pupil’s overall health condition, we immediately telephone for an ambulance at the same time as contacting you.
Illness
When a pupil falls ill during the school day, we contact you so that they may be taken home. If there is likely to be some delay, the pupil will be taken to Calvi Office (for Nursery to Year 1) or the School Nurse (Years 2 - 8). First Aid trained staff may administer medication if you have previously signed an authorisation to do so, and if it is appropriate for their condition.
With specific parental permission, we can administer pain relief and in some cases, other age appropriate medicines for example, for allergic reactions if medication is provided in the original packages.
Prescribed Medication
Prescribed medication can only be administered to the child for whom it has been prescribed, with their name and dosage as prescribed being provided.
In the case of a course of antibiotics requiring to be completed after a pupil's return to school or of a pupil requiring long-term medication, the medicine should be handed to the School Nurse on arrival at school. It will be stored in the Nurse’s dispensary and administered only by the School Nurse. You will be asked to complete a form giving your permission for this administration. All such treatment is recorded. If you have any queries about how to manage your child’s return to school after an illness, please consult the School Nurse.
First Aid
All members of Staff regularly update their first aid training. In addition to the School Nurse, some other key members of Staff are first aiders with paediatric first aid training, so there are always trained members of Staff to oversee first aid. At least one qualified first aider always accompanies trips. There are a number of first aid kits situated around school. There are also four defibrillators located in school. When a child is unwell, or has suffered an accident in school or on the playground, there is a protocol for Staff to follow:
- A trained first aider (preferably the School Nurse) is consulted
- The incident is logged in the accident book with particular reference to head injuries
- If there is any doubt at all, a parent is contacted
- In the case of serious injury, an ambulance would be summoned and, if the School is unable to contact a parent, a senior member of Staff would accompany the child to hospital.
Records of injuries are kept for three years.
Head Injuries
If a pupil takes a blow to the head, we always contact you to give you the option of taking them home or to the doctor. The School Nurse may decide that the pupil can continue with the school-day, but will check on them throughout the day.
When dealing with head injuries, we adopt ‘Return To Play’ protocols which give strict guidance on how to manage a pupil’s recovery. Parents can also subscribe annually to ‘return2play’ which allows parents video access to a team of doctors who can offer a consultation on an injury and advise on graduated return to play before being cleared to fully participate in physical activities.
The School has its own fully trained School Counsellor who is available to see any child where the School, in consultation with the child’s parents, feels this is appropriate. See the complete Pastoral Care staff team here.