Children are sometimes involved in accidents at school. Most of the time, this is dealt with in school, by a member of the support staff.

Simple cuts and grazes are washed. We don’t apply plasters unless it is essential to keep a large wound clean. We do not use antiseptic creams or wipes, just clean water and a sterile dressing to clean wounds. We often will give a child a small sterile ice pack to hold over a wound to ease the discomfort. For most injuries this is sufficient. A first aid note will be sent home with the child at the end of the school day.

If we feel the accident has been traumatic for the child, the child has had an injury to their head (above shoulder level) or that the injury sustained needs more specialised treatment, we will telephone for a parent or contact to come to school to assess the situation and to take the child home for more attention or the parent will be advised to seek further medical advice. A first aid note will be sent home with the child.

If the injury is more serious and needs urgent hospital attention, we telephone either parent or contact to come to the school immediately; if they are unavailable, we make arrangements for the child to be taken to hospital by ambulance and will meet the parent there. A senior member of staff, or first aider, will always accompany the child if the parent hasn’t arrived at the school. If necessary, the member of staff will act in ‘loco parentis’ to ensure a child is treated appropriately at the hospital until a parent arrives.

Several members of staff have Paediatric First Aid qualifications, they are called upon to advise in the event of more serious injuries.

If a child falls ill whilst at school, we telephone the parent or contact [if the parents are unavailable] for the child to be taken home. Please ensure we have the correct contact details for parents and other contacts, your child's records can be updated throughout the year.

Children who have stomach upsets involving sickness and/or diarrhoea should have two sleeps (48 hours) following the last symptom, before returning to school. This is to protect the dignity of your child and to prevent the spread of illness within the class and beyond.