Medical

The health, safety and welfare of all our pupils is of paramount importance. Before your child starts with use, you will be given a Pupil Information Form and Medical Form to complete as part of the admissions procedure. It is very important that we are made aware in advance of any medical conditions or allergies your child has, however slight (plasters, nut allergies, wasp stings, asthma etc.), so that we can have appropriate arrangements in place for them should they become ill.

Parents and carers have a duty to provide these details and to inform the Academy office immediately of any changes, especially in emergency contact numbers. All information is treated confidentially and will only be shared with authorised agencies where necessary.

If your child is injured at school, a member of staff qualified in First Aid will assess your child's need and apply basic first aid. For minor injuries, an accident information note will be issued and passed on to parents at the end of the day, together with a verbal explanation by a member of staff. If there is even the slightest concern that the injury may be more serious, parents will be contacted immediately. 

If your child feels unwell during school, we will contact you so that you can make any necessary arrangements to collect him/her. A child who vomits or has diarrhoea in school must be collected as soon as possible and should not return to school until 48 hours after the last episode of either sickness and/or diarrhoea.

With the exception of asthma inhalers, students are not allowed to administer drugs themselves.

All inhalers should be clearly labelled with the child’s name in the box and be bought to the school office. If a student needs to take a prescribed medicine at the Ark Dickens, a member of our first aid team will administer. If a child wishes to take a painkiller, they must let a member of first aid know so we will contact parent. No pupils will be provided with paracetamol unless permission has been expressly given by parents in advance. Students should not carry any medicines or painkillers on their person.