A Rationale

Most pupils will at some time have a need for pain relief that we hope will enhance their ability to embrace their participation in all school activities.

B Aim

By administering paracetamol to pupils in school, we aim to aid pupils in staying in school longer so that their education is not limited by a medical condition which can be treated with paracetamol.

C Principles

This policy sets out the circumstances in which we may administer paracetamol within school, and the procedures that we will follow.

D Processes

The School will keep its own stock of paracetamol tablets to reduce the risk of pupils carrying medicines and avoid confusion over what can be administered.

Pupils who frequently require paracetamols will be asked to provide their own tablets which will kept securely labelled in the Welfare Office. Parents/Carers will be contacted by the Pupil Welfare Officer in these circumstances.

In order for schools to administer paracetamol to pupils the written consent of parents and carers is required. See Appendix 1 for a copy of the permission letter.

The school will hold a supply of 500mg paracetamol securely in a locked medicine cabinet, and we will only administer one tablet of 500mg at second break – 12.40-1.10pm - to any pupil that presents at the Welfare Office. The Pupil Welfare Officer and Deputy Welfare Officer will check consent, paracetamol may be administered by the Pupil Welfare Officer or Deputy Welfare Officer who have received the required IHASCO Medication Awareness (Education) training in the event of a headache, toothache, period pain or any type of mild to moderate pain.

Parents and carers will be emailed if paracetamol has been administered to their child with time and reason for administering.

When a pupil is given paracetamol, a written record of it will be kept in school. This record will include: the dose given, pupil’s name, time and date and signature of the person administering.

Before giving paracetamol

1. The pupil should be encouraged to get some fresh air and have a drink or something to eat and paracetamol is only considered if these actions do not work.
2. We will only administer paracetamol to pupils whose parents/carers have completed and returned the permission letter
3. Only standard 500mg paracetamol may be given, not combination drugs which may contain other drugs.
4. We will ask the pupil whether they have self-medicated at any time since attending school on the day to ensure that no medication is given within a 4 hour period under NHS guidelines

Administering paracetamol

1. Pupils can only be given one dose of 500mg paracetamol during the school day. If this does not work we will contact the parent or carer to seek further guidance
2. If a pupil has a minor injury whilst at school outside of our administering time their condition will be triaged under First Aid requirements and pain relief will be administered accordingly after obtaining verbal consent
3. If a pupil has an IHCP that requires paracetamol pain relief, verbal consent must always be obtained prior to administration, and this logged by the Pupil Welfare Officer
4. The Pupil Welfare Officer must watch the pupil taking the paracetamol and make a record of it.

Paracetamol must not be given

1. Following a head injury as per the NHS guidance
2. Where a pupil has taken paracetamol containing medicine within the last four hours

E Monitoring, Assessment and Evaluation

The policy will be monitored to ensure that the processes described within this policy is followed.

The Policy will be reviewed annually by the Senior Leadership Team.