Asthma policy

To enable every individual regardless of ability to achieve their full potential, to prepare for future life and to become life long learners, developing a thirst for learning and to become good citizens equipped for the challenges of the 21st century.

Our motto is – It’s fun to learn

The values that underpin this vision can be set out under the following headings.

To Develop An Understanding Of Self

Each child should

• Develop an appreciation and awareness of self
• Become independent learners and thinkers
• Achieve their fullest potential regardless of their ability
• Have high personal expectations of work and behaviour
• Have a positive attitude towards their own learning
• Show a healthy attitude to living an active life through sport and other recreational activities

To Develop An Understanding Of Relationships

Each child should

• Care for others
• Show mutual respect and tolerance for spiritual and cultural diversity
• Understand the importance of learning together as a team

To Develop An Understanding Of Society

Each child should endeavour to become

• Good citizens
• Effective and constructive members of the community
• Able to appreciate and celebrate their own and others success
• Valuable members of the school community

To Develop An Understanding Of The Environment

Each child should

• Appreciate the learning environment of the school
• Be safe and cared for in a stimulating learning environment
• Appreciate and respect the environment of the school

Through exposure to a wide range of teaching and learning experiences, pupils will achieve their full potential as independent, THINKING learners. Relevant, enjoyable and enriching activities will develop their thirst for life-long learning.

As a school our belief is that every child deserves to succeed regardless of his or her ability.
The Principles of our school Asthma Policy

• The School recognises that asthma is an important condition affecting many school children and welcomes all pupils with asthma

• Ensures that children with asthma participate fully in all aspects of school life including PE

• Recognises that immediate access to reliever inhalers is vital

• Keeps records of children with asthma and the medication they take

• Ensures the school environment is favourable to children with asthma

• Ensures that other children understand asthma

• Ensures all staff who come into contact with children with asthma know what to do in the event of an asthma attack

• Will work in partnership with all interested parties including all school staff, parents, governors, doctors and nurses, and children to ensure the policy is implemented and maintained successfully

This policy has been written with advice from the Department for Education and Employment, National Asthma Campaign, the local education authority, the school health service, parents, the governing body and pupils

1. This school recognises that asthma is an important condition affecting many school children and positively welcomes all pupils with asthma.

2. This school encourages children with asthma to achieve their potential in all aspects of school life by having a clear policy that is understood by school staff, their employers (the local education authority) and pupils. Supply teachers and new staff are ALSO MADE AWARE OF THE POLICY. All staff who come into contact with children with asthma are provided with training on asthma from the school nurse who has had asthma training. Training is updated once a year.

Medication
Immediate access to reliever is vital. Children are encouraged to carry their reliever inhaler as soon as the parents, doctor or nurse and class teacher agree they are mature enough. The reliever inhalers of younger children are kept in the classroom. Parents are asked to ensure that the school is provided with a labelled spare reliever inhaler.

The class teacher will hold this separately in case the child’s own inhaler runs out or is lost or forgotten. All inhalers must be labelled with the child’s name by the parent. School staff are not required to administer medication to children except in an emergency however many of our staff our happy to do this. School staff who agree to do this are insured by the local education authority when acting in accordance with this policy. All school staff will let children take their own medication when they need to.

Record Keeping
At the beginning of each school year, or when a child joins the school, parents are asked if their child has asthma. All parents of children with asthma are given a National Asthma Campaign school card to give to their child’s GP or asthma nurse to complete and return to the school. From this information the school keeps its asthma register which is available for all school staff. Cards are then sent to parents on an annual basis to update. If medication changes in between times, parents are asked to inform the school.

PE
Taking part in sports is an essential part of school life. Teachers are aware of which children have asthma from the asthma register. Children with asthma are encouraged to participate fully in PE. Teachers will remind children whose asthma is triggered by exercise to take their reliever inhaler before the lesson and complete a warm up of a couple of short sprints over five minutes before the lesson. Each child’s inhalers will be labelled and kept in a box at the site of the lesson. If a child needs to use their inhaler during the lesson, they will be encouraged to do so.

The School Environment
The school does all that it can to ensure the school environment is favourable to children with asthma. The school does not keep furry and feathery pets and has a non-smoking policy. As far as possible the school does not use chemicals in science and art lessons that are potential triggers for children with asthma. Children are encouraged to leave the room and go and sit in the secretary’s office if particular fumes trigger their asthma.

Making the School Asthma Friendly
The school ensures that all children understand asthma. Asthma can be included in Key Stages 1 and 2 in science, design and technology, geography, history and PE of the national curriculum. Children with asthma and their friends are encouraged to learn about asthma; information for children and teens can be accessed from the following website www.asthma.org.uk.

When a Child is falling behind in lessons
If a child is missing a lot of time from school because of asthma or is tired in class because of disturbed sleep and falling behind in class, the class teacher will initially talk to the parents. If appropriate the teacher will then talk to the school nurse and special educational needs coordinator about the situation. The school recognises that it is possible for children with asthma to have special education needs because of asthma.

Asthma Attacks
All staff who come into contact with children with asthma know what to do in the event of an asthma attack. The school follows the following procedure, which is clearly displayed in all classrooms.
1. Ensure that the reliever inhaler is taken immediately.
2. Stay clam and reassure the child.
3. Help the child to breathe by ensuring tight clothing is loosened.

After the attack
Minor attacks should not interrupt a child’s involvement in school. When they fell better they can return to school activities.

The child’s parents must be told about the attack.
Emergency procedure
Call the child’s doctor urgently from the secretary’s office using the asthma register to find out the number of the GP if:
• The reliever has no effect after five to ten minutes
• The child is either distressed or unable to talk
• The child is getting exhausted
• You have any doubts at all about the child’s condition
If the Doctor is unobtainable, call an ambulance

A child should always be taken to hospital in an ambulance. School staff should not take them in their car as the child’s condition may deteriorate