Advice please : medication at school.

moomoomama27

I really do not know where to turn next with re: to this.

Bit of background. My teenage daughter was diagnosed last year as being Bi polar. After several years of trying to get her assessed, and failed attempts, because she was labelled as 'just another teen who can't control herself', we finally got a result.

It took lots of meetings with school, ed psych, CAMHs, Banardos, YMCA counselling and if course the GP. She now has medication to take, it has to be taken regularly and the time she's found best is 11am, however she has now been refused permission to leave class to go to the school nurses station to take the meds. She's been told that she can either take them in class or wait until lunchtime (12.45pm). She doesn't want to take the meds Infront of her new class because she wants to keep things private apart from her close friends, and she finds waiting until 12.45pm too late.

I've spoken to her head of year, the head teacher, and am in the process of writing to the Governers. The response I've got so far, us she could say it's a paracetamol, it's too much distraction, it will muck about with her lesson and hers and others learning, despite the fact the nurses station is less than a 3 minute walk from the sixth form block where ALL her lessons take place.

Is there anything else I can do?? Or am I the one being awkward?

1DayAAT

This sounds awful - almost to the point of disability discrimination (she is covered by the Equalities Act 2010 for her diagnosis)
She should be allowed to take any medication she needs as a reasonable adjustment, as she needs to and where she needs to. They are bang out of order to make this difficult for her.

My 16 year old son is in a similar boat with anti-depressant medication and another stimulant that have to be taken at specific times due to interactions and side effects - his school have been very understanding.

lulu_92

They should be doing what ever they can to make her comfortable. I'm guessing that some of these teachers are closed minded and don't think mental illness is a real thing, which is a common misconception as sad as it is to say.

If she has to take her medication at 11am for it to be effective she has to take it at 11am. I'm sure it doesn't take that long for her to take it so the school should be accommodating.

Nicki

Could CAMHs speak to the school on your behalf? If it comes from a professional they may take it better. If not, there is a new code of practice for schools for pupils with medical needs and there may be something in there which would be helpful if you google for it and have a read through.

Nicki

Ok am on my phone so can't post a link but the code of practice says that the views of the child can't be ignored, and it is unacceptable to prevent a child with a medical condition from taking a break if needed to manage their medical condition effectively. It is the governors responsibility both to have a policy on place and to ensure it is implemented properly

[Deleted User]

I don't see why the school couldn't be a bit more accommodating, but I do wonder whether she is going to draw more attention to herself by walking out of class every morning. The kids are going to keep pestering her as they grow increasingly curious about what she's doing.

mgdavid

there's a .pdf download on this page
http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/advice/advice-home/parents-and-pupils-advice/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-needs-september-2014/

it's also on .gov.uk but I can't get the link to copy/paste.

snowleopard61

I think they would find it hard to argue with a letter from a consultant psychiatrist - could this be arranged?

I too think the school are handling it badly, although like jack pott I wonder if it is even more conspicuous to leave the room. Very difficult for your daughter, and for you.

Jitterbug123

That is absolutely appalling.

If she is on anything like Quetiapine, or other mood stabilisers then it's extremely important that she be allowed to take it at the right time to prevent sedation causing difficulties.

I think a letter from the GP or Psychiatrist would hopefully sort it out?

If not then as others have said I'd complain to the governors.

rpc

If they aren't being cooperative, start being specific.

Make sure you are clear that the medication must be taken at 11am, not that this is when she quite likes to take it.


Ask them for their complaints procedure, then follow this.

Remind them that they have a "duty to support pupils with medical conditions." She requires to take medication at 11am and wants her medical condition to remain private. Ask them to explain how they are meeting their statutory obligation under s100 Children and Families Act 2014 with respect to your daughter.

Remind them that she has a protected characteristic and must not be discriminated against. Ask them to explain how they are meeting their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 (particularly Part 6 and Schedule 13). They have a duty to make reasonable adjustments (section 20).

Provided that the teacher knows, quietly leaving a lesson and returning less than 10 minutes later is not disruptive. It isn't ideal for your daughter to miss a chunk of the lesson, but it isn't exactly her choice to be ill! Education must come second to health. The school has their priorities in the wrong order and could get into some serious bother.

lostinrates

jack_pott wrote: »

I don't see why the school couldn't be a bit more accommodating, but I do wonder whether she is going to draw more attention to herself by walking out of class every morning. The kids are going to keep pestering her as they grow increasingly curious about what she's doing.

snowleopard61 wrote: »

I think they would find it hard to argue with a letter from a consultant psychiatrist - could this be arranged?

I too think the school are handling it badly, although like jack pott I wonder if it is even more conspicuous to leave the room. Very difficult for your daughter, and for you.

Is there no natural lesson break nearer to eleven than 12:45? It seems very odd, and that that that natural break would be the ideal time, both for lack of 'conspicuous ness' and for her medication needs.