Parent's Area: Medicine Permission

Dear Parents

In September 1995, we received from Essex County Council Guidelines on the 'Administration of Medicines to Pupils'. The pamphlet covered a number of issues and it did have implications both for parents and for us in school.

We had always given medicines when we had been requested to do so and Mrs Draper had taken the day to day responsibility for it. The Guidelines informed us that there were legal implications in agreeing to give medicines and that there were certain precautions we had to take. We do know that as a result of these Guidelines, some schools refused to administer medicines or to have them in school.

We did not feel that we wanted to do this as we knew that for many parents it would be very difficult. We therefore requested that a permission slip is signed which gives your agreement to administer medicines at any time during your child's time with us when you send medicine in. Equally we said that if you do not want to give 'whole school' coverage that was fine, but we would expect a letter every time that you send a medicine in requesting us to administer it to your child.

Several years on, I have to report that this system has worked well - we now never give medicines to any child unless we have a written request or permission to do so. This ensures that the staff at school are legally covered and that you know exactly what is given to your child.

Therefore would you please decide whether you wish to sign the enclosed form or send in written permission every time your child requires medicine.

In addition when medicine is sent in, it must be in a suitable container clearly labelled with:

The Child's Name
The Name of the Medicine
The Dosage and Timing
The Date

If you wish to come into school to administer medicine to your child yourself, we are quite happy that you should but please inform us first.

As I said, the formalised arrangements have worked well, so please inform us of your wishes by signing the permission slip.

Thank you.