Child protection policy statement

Medication Policy
This policy promotes the good health of the children in our care, in line with the Early Years
Foundation Stage safeguarding and welfare requirements.
Children who are taking medication may attend nursery provided they are not suffering from an
infectious illness, are not displaying any signs or symptoms of illness and they are well enough
to fully participate in nursery activities; this is at the manager’s discretion. Parents may consult
our exclusion policy for more details.
We do not supply any type of medicines and will only administer medication supplied by the
parent for their individual child. In accordance with Ofsted’s guidance we will only give
medication when asked to do so by a parent and if there is an accepted health reason to do so.
Consent
A parent/carer must give prior written permission on the relevant medicine form for each and
every medicine before it can be administered; verbal permission will not be accepted.
Instructions and storage
Medication must be in the original container in which it was dispensed, with legible instructions
in English.
Medication must be within its expiry date; parents are responsible for the safe disposal of any
expired medication.
We will only administer the dosage and frequency indicated on the instructions/prescription
label.
Medication will be stored out of children’s reach and strictly in accordance with the product
instructions.
Short term medication will be sent home with the child daily and cannot be left overnight in the
nursery. Long term medication can be kept in the nursery for as long as it is required.
Records
The relevant medicine form will be completed by the staff member each time medication is
administered; a parent will be required to sign this on collection

Where medication is required to treat a long term medical condition, a care plan will be
completed by the parent. Long term use of paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin will require a
supporting letter from the GP confirming the health condition this is required for e.g. febrile
convulsions.

Administering medication
Medication will only be administered by the management team, or by the designated nursery
staff who have received the relevant technical/medical training.
If the administration of medication requires technical/medical knowledge e.g. insulin injections,
suppositories etc, then individual training must be provided for staff from a qualified health
professional which is to be arranged by the parent prior to the child attending; training must be
specific to the individual child concerned. For Epipens, staff will be trained in-house.
Prescription medication can only be given to that particular child; we cannot administer to any
other child, including a sibling, any medication that is prescribed for another named child.
We cannot administer both paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same dosage time; these must be
given at separate times according to the instructions. We cannot give any aspirin based
medicines to children unless these are prescribed.
EYFS2012/v1/Jan13
If a child refuses to take medicine, staff will make every attempt to encourage them but cannot force them. In this instance the parent will be contacted immediately to inform them. The following chart details which medication we can administer and for how long: Medication Chart
Examples of
Examples of
Where there is a health
medication
reasons for
medication
reason to do so we
administering
can administer:
Short term
prescribed
Short term
prescribed
Long term
prescribed
they suffer from regularly Eczema cream or constantly) which can Paracetamol*
Ibuprofen*
* a supporting letter is required from their GP Long term
prescribed
they suffer from regularly Eczema cream or constantly) and has Paracetamol*
Ibuprofen*
Aspirin*
* a supporting letter is required from their GP

Source: http://www.kidsunlimited.co.uk/downloads/medication-policy.pdf