Legal Framework and School Duties
Under Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014, governing bodies of maintained schools, proprietors of academies and management committees of PRUs must make arrangements to support pupils at their school with medical conditions. The DfE statutory guidance "Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions" (2014, updated 2017) sets out schools' responsibilities.
Most pupils with medical conditions will not have special educational needs (SEND), but should be included on a school register of pupils with medical conditions. Schools have a duty to support these pupils so that they can access and enjoy the same opportunities as any other child, including trips, activities and physical education.
Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs)
An Individual Healthcare Plan is a written document that captures key information about a pupil's medical condition, its triggers, signs and symptoms, medication and other treatments, and what to do in an emergency. Schools should work with parents and healthcare professionals to develop IHPs for pupils with complex or long-term medical needs.
IHPs should include:
- Details of the child's condition
- Special requirements (e.g. dietary needs, medication, equipment)
- Emergency procedures and contact details
- What constitutes an emergency for that child
- Who to contact in an emergency
- Arrangements for school trips and activities
- Roles and responsibilities of staff
- Arrangements for written permission from parents for medication to be administered
IHPs should be reviewed annually or when circumstances change. Parents, healthcare professionals, the pupil (where appropriate) and relevant school staff should all contribute to the plan.
Staff Training and Responsibilities
Schools must ensure that sufficient staff are appropriately trained to manage medical conditions and administer medication. This includes:
- Training for staff on the specific needs of pupils with medical conditions in their care
- Awareness training for all staff to recognise when a pupil with a medical condition needs help
- Training on how to administer specific medications or treatments (e.g. adrenaline auto-injectors, insulin)
- Regular refresher training to keep knowledge up to date
Any member of school staff may be asked to provide support to pupils with medical conditions, including administering medicines, although they cannot be required to do so. Schools should ensure there are always sufficient numbers of trained staff available.
Medication in Schools
Schools should have a clear medicines policy that sets out how they will support pupils with medical conditions. Key principles include:
- Medicines should only be administered at school when it would be detrimental to a child's health or school attendance not to do so
- Written consent from parents is required before any medication is given
- Medicines must be clearly labelled with the pupil's name, dosage and frequency
- Schools should keep records of all medicines administered
- Controlled drugs should be stored securely but accessibly
- Pupils should know where their medicines are stored and who holds the key
- Emergency medication (e.g. asthma inhalers, adrenaline auto-injectors) should be readily available
Emergency Procedures
All schools should have clear procedures for responding to medical emergencies. Staff should know:
- How to recognise an emergency for each child with a medical condition
- Who to contact (e.g. named person in school, parent, emergency services)
- Where emergency medication is stored and how to administer it
- What information to provide to emergency services
Emergency plans should be clearly documented in Individual Healthcare Plans and displayed in relevant areas (e.g. staff room, classroom).
Common Medical Conditions in Schools
The following pages provide detailed information about common medical conditions that schools may encounter. Each page includes:
- Description of the condition and its impact
- Signs, symptoms and triggers
- Emergency procedures where applicable
- Practical strategies for supporting pupils in the classroom
- Links to specialist organisations and further guidance