Medical Needs

Some pupils may have a medical condition that affects their school life. At Rockmount, we are committed to working with families to best support pupils and their individual needs. Please look at the policy below for further information about how we support all pupils to allow them to access the same education as others whilst also encouraging pupils to play a full and active role in their school life. 

It is imperative that you inform the school of any medical needs that your child may have and that you continue to keep school informed of any changes. If you are unsure of whether you need to inform school of a particular need, please email the school office who will share your message with the appropriate member of staff.

Individual Care Plans 

When the school is notified that a pupil has a medical condition, the process outlined in the 'Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions' policy will be followed to decide whether the pupil requires an Individual Care Plan.

Plans will be reviewed at least annually, or earlier if there is evidence that the pupil's needs have changed.

Plans will be developed with the pupil's best interests in mind and will set out:

• What needs to be done
• When 
• By Whom

Not all pupils with a medical condition will require an Individual Care Plan.

Administering Medicines 

Prescription and non-prescription medicines will only be administered at school:

• When it would be detrimental to the pupil's health or school attendance not to do so

and

• Where we have written consent from parents/carers (please see form below)

If your child needs to receive medication whilst at school, please contact the school office who will be able to advise further and provide you with a form to fill in to give consent. 

Food and Nut Allergies 

If your child has a known food allergy, please contact the school office who will be able to advise further. You will then be provided with an allergy form that will also be shared (with your consent) with our catering company Pabulum, so that your child's needs are catered for should they wish to have a school lunch.

Emergency adrenaline auto-injector and inhaler 

If your child requires the use of an adrenaline auto-injector pen (AAI) e.g. EpiPen or salbutamol inhaler, then as part of your child's individual care plan you will also be asked to give your consent to allow your child to have access to an emergency AAI or inhaler should they need to use it. The emergency supplies are available for those whose prescribed inhaler or AAI is not available for any reason in the event of an emergency. 

Emergency inhalers and AAIs will only be administered to students for whom written parental consent has been given.

Head Injuries 

If your child has received a bump to the head during the school day, we are required to make a call home to the parent/carer to notify them of the incident, even if the bump to the head is considered 'minor'. You will always have the option to collect your child after you have been notified of a head injury, again, even if the bump to the head is considered 'minor'.

If the head injury is deemed as anything more than minor by a qualified first aider, than you will be requested to collect your child and take them to casualty as a precaution.

In a non-urgent situation, if a parent/carer cannot be contacted by phone to make them aware of the incident, an email will be sent to the parent/carer from the school office notifying them that their child has received a minor bump to the head. School staff will continue to monitor your child throughout the day and you will be contacted again if there are any furthers signs of deeper injury/concussion. 

It is out policy to take a cautious approach when dealing with head injuries to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of your child. In the event that your child has received a bump to the head during the school day, please look out for the following at home. Attend the nearest A&E (Accident & Emergency Department) if your child experiences any of them:

• Confusion
• Vomiting/feeling sick
• Difficulty to wake
• Drowsiness that goes on for longer than one hour when they would normally be wide awake
• A headache that does not go away with painkillers
• Becoming unconscious
• A change in behaviour, like being more irritable 
• Feeling 'not quite right'
• Feeling Dizzy
• Ringing in their ears 
• Feeling dazed
• Problems with memory
• A fit (seizure)
• Problems with their vision
• Clear fluid coming from their ears or nose 
• Bleeding from their ears
• Numbness or weakness in part of their body
• Problems with walking, balance, understanding, speaking or writing 

Other relevant actions to take:

• Hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas in a tea towel) to the injury regularly for short periods in the first few days to bring down any swelling
• Rest and avoid stress - you or your child do not need to stay awake if you're tired
• Consider paediatric pain relief and call 111 if you need help
• Make sure you stay with your child for at least the first 24 hours - go to A&E if concerned or call an ambulance on 999

See your GP:

• If your child's symptoms last more than 2 weeks 
• If you're not sure if it's safe for them to return to school or sports

Please go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/minor-head-injury/ if you require any further information.

Medical Conditions

Please follow the links below to find out further information about each of the medical conditions.

School Health Newsletter 

The School Nurse team produce a termly newsletter that gives an update about what they are doing in schools around Croydon. Please see the newsletter below and a link to the Croydon School Nursing website for more information about their services.