About Us - School Policies

The school has a number of policies which parents should be awre of. Click the quick link to view a specific policy.

Asthma Policy | Headlice Policy | Bullying Policy

LAMBTON PRIMARY SCHOOL ASTHMA POLICY

Rational
Asthma is a physical condition, not an emotional illness. It affects at least one in every 10 children. An attack is caused by a sudden narrowing of the air passages making it difficult to breathe. Asthma can be controlled by, firstly avoiding known irritants or triggers and secondly by inhaling specific prescribed drugs.

Aim
The aim of this policy is to set out clearly the roles and responsibilities of parents and staff in relation to children with Asthma in school.

Objectives
· For all staff to be aware of children who they come into contact with who have asthma.
· To ensure that procedures relating to the use of inhalers are consistent throughout the school.
· To detail procedures to be followed if a child has an asthma attack.
· To ensure records are kept up to date and are available to all relevant staff.
· To make parents aware of this policy.

Responsibility of the School
· To ensure that all pupils with asthma are encouraged to participate fully in the life of the school.
· To notify parents if their child has required their inhaler to be administered during the day (Key Stage 1). Key Stage 2 children will administer their own medication.
· To provide an accessible safe place for the storage of inhalers kept in school.
· To ensure that an up to date medical register is kept at the front of each class register.
· To ensure that staff have an understanding of what to do in the event of a child having an attack.
· On school trips or visits to ensure accompanying staff are aware of the children with asthma and to ensure these children have their inhaler. If undertaking physical activity where the inhaler may be damaged then the member of staff in charge will carry the inhaler. The staff member in charge will carry the inhaler for Key Stage 1 children.
· To remind parents in letters about trips, that children with asthma need to bring an inhaler.

Responsibility of Parents
· To notify school if their child has asthma.
· Supply their child with a named inhaler.
· To notify school if their child’s medication is to be administered by a member of staff and to complete the appropriate permission form.
· To complete, annually, an asthma record.
· To notify the school of any change in their child’s condition or medication.

Children who have been identified should have an inhaler in school. If parents do not consider it appropriate to supply their child with an inhaler, then this must be their responsibility.

Where do we keep inhalers
Key Stage 1 pupils should keep their inhaler in a box in the classroom. Key Stage 2 pupils may take responsibility for their own inhalers.

ASTHMA ATTACK – WHAT TO DO……

Mild to Moderate Attack
(Cough, wheeze, tight chest, but child able to talk in sentences.)
1. Ensure their usual reliever dose taken immediately – usually blue inhaler, relieves breathing difficulty in 5 to 10 minutes.
IF NOT – Follow ‘Severe Attack’ guide.
2. Stay calm and reassuring. Help child breathe.
Attacks are frightening . Listen to the child.
Assist to sit comfortably. Encourage slow deep breaths.
3. After the attack – For mild attacks children can resume normal activities
as soon as they feel better.
Inform their parents.

SEVERE ATTACK – Emergency Situation
The following indicates a severe attack, which must be dealt with at once:
· Reliever has no effect within 5 to 10 minutes.
· Child distressed or unable to talk normally.
· Child is getting exhausted.
· Blue tinge around the lips.
· You have any doubts about the child’s condition only ONE sign needed to indicate severity.
N.B. the child may not wheeze.

1. Ensure child takes second dose of reliever.
2. Second adult dials 999 for ambulance.
State the child is having severe asthma attack requiring immediate attention. Always transport to hospital by ambulance, not staff cars as the child may deteriorate rapidly.
3. Continue giving reliever until help arrives. Use the child’s own reliever
or the emergency spacer and reliever MDI. Give 10 puffs, one at a time
into the spacer, 1 puff per minute. Encourage 5 breaths per puff.
4. Inform the child’s parent or guardian of the situation and actions take.
5. After the event – The link person should document the incident, inform
the school nurse and arrange cleaning/replacement of the MDI and
spacer.

ASTHMA RECORD

SURNAME................................................................ FIRST NAME......................................

Date of birth..............................................................................................................................

Parent(s) Name(s).....................................................................................................................

Telephone Home...........................................................Work...................................................

GP Name...................................................................... GP Telephone.....................................

Asthma Nurse...........................................................................................................................

Known triggers/allergies............................................................................................................

Any other Medical problems.....................................................................................................

My Child’s Medication
Reliever medication (usually blue)
Medication Name Device Dose When Taken
(eg.SALBUTAMOL) (eg.diskhaler) (eg. 1 blister) (eg.when wheezy
before exercise)
................................................................................................................................................
Other Medication – most preventers can be taken outside of school hours – check with GP or asthma nurse.
Medication Name How taken/device Dose When Taken

...............................................................................................................................................
Emergency Treatment
In the event of a severe asthma attack I am happy for my child to receive 10 – 20
Puffs of a reliever and further medical help to be obtained.

Signed: (Parent)......................................................................... Date.....................................

Key Points for parents to remember:
This record is for your school. Remember to update it if treatment is changed. Remember to check you have enough inhaler doses, that it is in date and labelled by the pharmacist with your child’s name and dosage details.

Click here to download a copy of our asthma policy

Back to top

Lambton Primary School Head Lice Policy

Rationale
We recognise that head lice are a major health problem with an estimated 1 in 10 children affected each year. Head lice do not transmit disease, however are a cause of frustration and anxiety.
Head lice can be found on the cleanest hair, are caught by head to head contact and spread very quickly.
School can alert parents of a general out break in school, however, the prevention and treatment is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

Guidelines and procedures
· The school will make every effort to inform parents if there is a general out break in school.
· Parents will be advised to treat children's hair immediately it has been detected and return them to school after treatment.
· Parents are advised that relevant information on the treatment of head lice is available from school or the school-nursing sister based at the Galleries Health centre.

Easy Preventative Measures
· Head lice nits are easily injured so brushing and combing twice a day may reduce the chances of infestation.
· Shampoo hair at least weekly with a normal shampoo
· Long hair should be plaited or at least tied back while at school
· Check hair frequently, at least once a week for lice and nit

Treatment
If you find Head Lice or Nits
· Check all family members and treat if necessary.
· Use an appropriate insecticide preparation.
· Read and follow the instructions carefully. Do not use a hair dryer to dry hair after treatment as heat can destroy the effectiveness of some treatments.
· Remove all Nits after treatment using a fine toothed comb.
· Check hair daily after treatment and continue to remove nits until all are gone.
· Head lice have a life cycle of three weeks so keep checking the hair for three weeks to ensure there is no reinfestation.
· Continue the routine of twice daily brushing as this helps to damage the eggs and prevent reinfestation.
· Inform school and your child's friends to be more vigilant.

What to do if reinfestation occurs
· Check that all contacts have been treated.
· The treatment may need to be repeated with a different preparation due to the resistance of the head lice to a particular chemical.
· Ensure that instructions are followed exactly.

Click here to download a copy of our headlice policy.

Back to top

Lambton Primary School Prevention of Bullying Policy

Policy agreed January 2002 Policy Reviewed 2003

Rational

This policy has been developed as part of a review of the behaviour policy and associated childcare policies. As a school we do not expect our children to tolerate bullying in any form or for them to have to suffer in silence. We want to create a climate in school where they are encouraged to disclose problems in an environment where they feel safe and confident. We also wish to support children who feel it necessary to bully to ensure that they receive the help and support they need to change their behaviour.

Aim

The aim of this policy is to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all of our pupils so that they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. We state that bullying of any kind is unacceptable in our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We agree that it is the responsibility of all members of staff who know that bullying is occurring to do something about it.

Objectives

· All governors, teaching staff, non- teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
· All governors, teaching and non teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
· All pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
· As a school we take bullying seriously. Pupils and parents should know that all members of the school community will support them when bullying is reported.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time and results in pain and distress to the victim. Bullying may take the form of
· Emotional being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. Hiding books
threatening gestures.)
· Physical pushing, kicking, hitting or any use of violence, threatening to
use violence.
· Racist racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
· Verbal name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing, intimidation

Signs and Symptoms of Bullying

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that they are being bullied. These signs may include
· Is frightened of walking to or from school
· Changes their usual routine
· Is unwilling to go to school
· Begins truanting
· Becomes anxious withdrawn or lacking in confidence
· Starts stammering
· Cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
· Feels ill in the morning
· Begins to do poorly in school work
· Arrives at home at night with torn clothes or damaged books
· Has possessions that go missing on frequent occasions
· Has unexplained cuts or bruises
· Becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
· Begins to bully other children or siblings
· Stops eating
· Is frightened to say what is wrong
· Gives improbable excuses for any of the above.

These signs and behaviours can also indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered as a possibility and should be investigated.

Is there a typical Bully?

A bully gets satisfaction from the humiliation and pain of others. Research has shown that 15% of children are bullied and that some are both bully and victim. Individuals or groups can carry out bullying and often bullies try to include others in their activities. Most bullies feel confident to act in public, the onlookers becoming part of the process.
The methods adopted by girls and boys tend to be different: boys are more physical and girls more subtle.
Bullies often have their own problems-they may feel upset or angry or feel that they don’t fit in, they may have problems at home. Maybe they get bullied themselves, perhaps by someone in their own home or other adults. They may be scared of being bullied and so they do it first. They may want to show off and look tough.
Many bullies don’t like themselves and so take it out on someone else.

Dealing with Bullying

The following steps will be undertaken if bullying is suspected or if there is a complaint by a parent that their child is being bullied.

Stage 1
Parents, children or other members of staff should inform the class teacher of incidents of perceived bullying.
The class teacher investigates fully, listening to the views of all parties.
The incident will be documented in the class behaviour record. The teacher will monitor if there is a pattern to incidents. If there is a concern a copy of the incidents will be passed to the Head teacher.

Stage 2
The head teacher will interview all concerned and will record the incident in the behaviour record book, this is kept in the head teacher’s office.
The sanctions used against pupils who bullies will depend on the seriousness of the offence but will at this stage include the loss of break or privilege.
Parents of the victim and bully will be informed in writing of the incident and the action taken.

Stage 3
If incidents continue both sets of parents will be asked to come into school to and asked to assist in remedying the situation as well as developing a strategy to support the bully and victim. A decision may be taken at this stage to exclude the bully from certain areas of the school for a fixed period e.g. lunch times.

Stage 4
If incidents still continue parents will be invited to come into school and team action will be taken to support the victim, this may include another child or group of children acting as supporters of the victim.
The bully will be offered further support to discover why they became involved and establishing the wrongdoing, and the need to change.
At this point a decision may be taken to exclude a pupil for a minor fixed period

Stage 5
If incident still continue external support will be sought through the Education Social Work Service. There will be a meeting attended by the Head teacher and members of the Governing Body. A decision may be taken at this time for a major fixed term exclusion. .

Full written documentary evidence will be kept at all stages that may include written evidence by the victim and bully and a record of letters sent home and telephone calls.

Raising Awareness of Bullying

As part of our programme of P.S.M.E. we raise the awareness of bullying and provide them with the opportunities to talk about issues related to bullying. The school’s physical environment will be constantly monitored to ensure that there are places where bullying goes on unnoticed.

Responsibility of all staff members

All staff are duty bound to implement policies adopted by the governing body of the school. Discipline in school is maintained according to the agreed school rules. Our school aims state that we promote a caring and co-operative attitude.

Bullying at other times

We can only be responsible for what happens to our children during school hours. However if it comes to a member of staffs attention that there may be incidents of bullying either on the way to or from school we will inform the parents of the victim of our concerns.

Monitoring and Evaluation

This policy will be reviewed in line the Governors programme of policy review. This review will assess its implementation and effectiveness and will include a review of the number of reported bullying incidents and the documentation of both class teachers and the head teacher.

Click here to download a copy of our Bullying policy

Back to top