Care · Inclusion · Working together
Health & Medical Needs
Every child known and cared for
Understanding your child’s health needs helps us plan appropriate care, respond to difficulties and support their learning and wellbeing.
Our Catholic commitment to the dignity of every child shapes our approach to inclusion. Please work with us by sharing relevant information early and keeping school informed when needs or treatment change.
Need to discuss a medical arrangement? Contact the school office on 01942 634681 before sending medicine or medical equipment into school. The office will explain the appropriate next step.
Tell us about your child’s needs
Please inform school before your child starts, when a new need is identified or whenever an existing need changes. You do not need to wait for a scheduled meeting.
Information that helps us plan
- Medical conditions and how they affect your child.
- Allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements.
- Prescribed treatment and emergency medication.
- Symptoms or warning signs staff need to recognise.
- Relevant advice from healthcare professionals.
- Mobility, sensory, communication or personal-care needs.
- Any support needed during PE, visits or wraparound care.
Keep us updated
Tell us promptly about changes in medication, treatment, professional advice or your child’s ability to manage their condition.
Please also keep telephone numbers and emergency contacts up to date so that we can reach you during the school day.
Share sensitive information directly with school. The office can arrange a private conversation and explain how to provide documents securely.
Planning the right support
Individual healthcare plans
Some children need an individual healthcare plan to explain the support required in school. Not every medical condition requires a separate plan.
Where a plan is needed, discussion with parents, relevant staff and healthcare professionals helps clarify what should happen, when and who is involved. Your child’s views should inform planning in a way suited to their age and understanding.
A plan may address:
- The medical condition, symptoms and relevant triggers.
- Day-to-day support and treatment requirements.
- Emergency signs and the action to take.
- Medication, equipment and access arrangements.
- Staff information, training and responsibilities.
- Participation in learning, physical activity and visits.
- Communication with home and arrangements for review.
Please contact school when professional advice changes so that any agreed arrangements can be reviewed.
Medical needs and SEND
A child can have a medical condition without having special educational needs. Where health needs also affect learning or access, school can discuss coordinated support with you and the SENCOs.
Medicines in school
Please discuss any medicine needed during the school day with the office in advance. The school’s Administering Medication Policy explains the arrangements for receiving, storing and administering medication.
Agree arrangements first
Our policy says that school stores and administers prescribed medication when it is essential for it to be taken during the school day. A completed parental consent form is required.
Contact the office before sending medication so that the required paperwork and arrangements can be agreed. Staff who administer medication must have appropriate training for their responsibilities.
Where specialist treatment is needed, this should be discussed as part of the child’s individual support arrangements.
Providing clear information
Where school agrees to receive medication, follow the instructions given about packaging, labelling, delivery, storage and collection.
Prescribed medicine should be supplied in its original dispensed container with the child’s name and the prescription instructions. Please tell school if the medication, dose or instructions change.
Do not send loose tablets, unlabelled medicine or medicine in a child’s bag without an agreed arrangement.
Emergency and rescue medication
If your child has a prescribed inhaler, adrenaline auto-injector or other emergency medicine, contact school to agree an appropriate plan for access and use. Emergency medication must be readily accessible.
Please check expiry dates and arrange replacements in good time. Tell school about any changes to the agreed treatment or healthcare plan.
Our policy says that non-prescription medicines, such as paracetamol, are not administered by school. If you have a question about a prescribed medicine or its timing, contact the office and seek advice from the prescriber or pharmacist where needed.
Allergies and dietary needs
Sacred Heart is an allergy-aware school. We work with families, staff, catering colleagues and health professionals to reduce risks and prepare for allergic reactions.
Tell school directly
Inform the office about diagnosed allergies, previous reactions and any prescribed emergency treatment. Share relevant professional advice.
An allergy needs to be understood beyond the lunch menu. It may affect classroom activities, food preparation, celebrations, visits and wraparound care.
Please tell us immediately if your child’s allergy information changes.
School meals and medical diets
Contact school before relying on a menu choice to meet a medical dietary need. The office can explain how requirements are discussed with the catering team and what information is needed.
Follow any food guidance issued by school, including arrangements for food brought from home. Children are encouraged not to share or swap food, utensils or food containers.
School meals informationOur approach to allergy safety
Our Allergy Safety Policy describes a whole-school approach to awareness, risk reduction and emergency preparedness. Rather than relying on a blanket nut ban, we recognise that different people can be allergic to different substances and work to reduce known risks.
The policy includes allergy action plans, catering arrangements, staff training and access to emergency adrenaline. A child’s own prescribed emergency medication remains essential.
If your child is prescribed adrenaline, discuss the individual arrangements with school and make sure their medication is in date. Adrenaline nasal devices are held for a pupil only where prescribed for that individual.
Kitt Medical provision is expected to be introduced in November 2026. Families will be kept informed when the arrangements are in place. Any school spare provision will not replace a child’s own prescribed emergency medication.
Taking part in school life
Health needs should be considered when planning children’s participation in lessons, physical activity, school visits and wider opportunities.
Please discuss any specific requirements early, including medication, equipment, access, fatigue, recovery or professional advice about activity. This allows staff to consider appropriate support and adjustments.
Visits and activities
Tell school about relevant changes before a visit or activity, even if the condition is already recorded. Check that any necessary medicine or equipment arrangements have been agreed.
Returning after illness or treatment
If your child needs support when returning, contact school before their return where possible. Share relevant advice about mobility, recovery, treatment or activity.
For an ongoing health-related attendance difficulty, ask to discuss support with Mrs Cox.
Illness and attendance
Deciding whether a child is well enough for school can sometimes be difficult. Use current NHS advice and seek professional advice when you are concerned about your child’s health.
Reporting an absence
Follow the current reporting arrangements on our Attendance page and explain why your child cannot attend.
Tell school about a diagnosed infection or advice affecting when your child can return.
Attendance and absence informationVomiting and diarrhoea
NHS guidance is to remain away from school for at least 48 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea.
Follow any additional advice from healthcare professionals or public health services.
NHS: Is my child too ill for school?Medical appointments
Let school know about appointments in advance wherever possible. Arrange them outside school hours when this is reasonably possible.
Where an appointment falls during the school day, discuss arrival, collection and return arrangements with the office. Children should attend for the parts of the day they are well enough and able to attend.
Education during prolonged or recurring illness
Some children cannot attend school for a period of time, or can attend only intermittently, because of their health. We recognise that every child’s circumstances are different. Please tell us as early as possible if a medical condition, treatment or recovery is likely to affect attendance.
Working together from the beginning
School will work with parents and carers, the child where appropriate, and relevant health professionals to understand the likely impact on learning, attendance and wellbeing.
We will discuss the support that may be appropriate while the child is absent, taking account of their health and medical advice. This may include sharing suitable learning and keeping in touch with school.
Please contact Mrs P Cox, Attendance Officer and Senior Pastoral Lead, or your child’s class teacher to begin the conversation.
The local authority’s role
Where a child of compulsory school age cannot receive suitable education at school because of health needs, the local authority has a duty to arrange suitable education when the statutory duty applies.
This can include education provided at home, in hospital or through another suitable arrangement. The local authority should ensure that a child is not without access to education for more than 15 school days and should arrange provision earlier where a long or recurring absence is clear.
School will share relevant information with the local authority and work with the family and professionals involved.
Keeping connected and planning a return
Where appropriate for the child’s health, we will help them remain connected to their class and school community, share relevant school information and work with any alternative or hospital education provider.
Before a return to school, we will discuss a suitable reintegration plan with the family and relevant professionals. This may include adjustments to routines, access, treatment arrangements or an individual healthcare plan.
Any temporary part-time timetable must be considered individually, agreed and reviewed in line with school policy and applicable guidance. Attendance is recorded according to the relevant rules; online contact alone does not automatically count as attendance.
If your child becomes unwell at school
Staff will respond to the child’s needs, seek appropriate first-aid or medical help and contact parents or carers where needed.
Please make sure school can reach you or another agreed emergency contact during the day. If collection is needed, the office will explain the arrangements.
Keep us informed about recent injuries. Tell school about an injury, head injury, hospital attendance or treatment that may affect your child’s care, comfort or participation. Share any instructions relevant to the school day.
Questions families often ask
Who should I contact about a new medical need?
Contact the school office first. Explain the nature of the need and whether anything requires prompt attention. The office can arrange the appropriate conversation.
Can I send medicine with my child?
Speak to the office and agree arrangements before sending medicine. Follow the school’s policy and instructions about consent, delivery, storage and collection.
Can school give non-prescription medicines?
Our Administering Medication Policy says that school stores and administers prescribed medication and does not administer medicines such as paracetamol. Contact the office if you need to discuss your child’s individual circumstances.
Does my child need an individual healthcare plan?
This depends on their needs and the support required. Contact school to discuss the condition, its impact and relevant advice from healthcare professionals.
What about support with toileting or personal care?
Please discuss needs with school early. Information will be handled sensitively so that appropriate arrangements can be considered together.
Let us know about any relevant medical advice, existing care plans or changes in your child’s needs.
What if health needs affect attendance over time?
Speak to Mrs Cox and share relevant professional advice. School can discuss barriers, support and appropriate planning with you.
Where illness prevents a child from attending for a prolonged period or recurring periods, school and the local authority will consider the appropriate arrangements for education.
How is medical information handled?
Medical information is handled sensitively and shared with staff who need it to support your child safely. Ask the office how to provide information securely.
When medical help is needed urgently
For a life-threatening emergency, call 999.
If you need urgent medical advice and are unsure what to do, use NHS 111 online or telephone 111.
Do not wait for a school email response when someone needs urgent medical help.
Let us plan together
Early conversations help us understand what your child needs. Contact the office if you would like to discuss a health concern, care arrangement or change in circumstances.