Medical Care

Ms Buike is the School Nurse. If you wish to inform the school about any medical issues relating to your son, please do so by email.

Please state your son’s full name, form and year in the email and allow three working days for responses to this email.

If your concern is urgent please call the school and ask to speak to either Ms Buike or a member of the pastoral team. 

Medication

The School Nurse cannot administer medication to students unless it is provided by a parent/guardian in the original package with a letter giving written permission for her to do so. Parents will be contacted, unless specific arrangements are made for an individual boy. All medication given into school is stored in the medical room or the New Field upon request.

Non-prescription medication should not be brought into school by students.

Prescription Medication should only be brought into school if it is essential that the dose must be administered during the school day.  At the start of school the student should hand the medication to school nurse who will consult with the parent /carer before administration.

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT KEEP OR ISSUE ANY MEDICINE FOR PAIN RELIEF UNLESS PREVIOUSLY ARRANGED AND PROVIDED BY PARENTS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.

RANGED AND PROVIDED BY PARENTS FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.

Appointments

Please avoid making dentist, optician, doctor or hospital appointments during school hours if possible. Appointment cards/letters must be provided beforehand if the appointment is during school hours and students must sign in/out at the school office. Please also make sure that your child is aware of the appointment (make a note/reminder in his planner if necessary). It is not possible for office staff to look for your son to remind him of his appointment.

Students in Years 7 to 11 MUST be collected by an adult. Please note that we do not permit any student from Years 7 to 11 to leave the school premises alone and appointments will be missed if no one arrives at school to collect the student.

Asthma

Pupils with asthma should carry their own inhalers with them at all times; the school nurse will only keep a spare inhaler for a student if specifically requested by parents.  An asthma care plan and medical form needs to be filled in, signed/dated by parents when a spare inhaler is kept at school.  The school also has an emergency asthma inhaler. 
 

Adrenaline Auto Injector (AAI)

If your child is prescribed an AAI they should carry one in their bag and give a second one to the school nurse (clearly named). Again, an AAI care plan (health care professional needs to sign/date this document) and medical form needs to be filled in, signed/dated by parents when a spare auto AAI is kept at school.  A passport-size photograph is also requested for children with an AAI.

Ongoing Medical Conditions

Students who are unable to attend school due to complex or ongoing medical conditions will have access to educational provision online with Government and Local Authority guidance and policies. These are explained in the statutory guidance for Local Authorities, which can be viewed here. 

In such circumstances, the school will liaise directly with health professionals to ensure appropriate educational provision will be accessible in line with the student's individual health requirements.

It is the parents overall responsibility to inform the school nurse of an underlying medical conditions and to update the school accordingly.


School Trips

Parents must provide all medication for their child, for example adrenaline auto injectors, asthma inhalers, anti-histamines for any day or residential trips. Emergency school asthma inhalers will not be sent on trips.

ANY CHILD THAT HAS BEEN VOMITING AND/OR HAS DIARRHOEA MUST BE FREE FROM THIS (from last and final episode of vomiting and/or diarrhoea) FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL. 

MEDICAL ROOM - WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR CHILD FEELS UNWELL?.  

 

Medical Room - What happens if your son feels unwell?

There is a medical room available for the pupil to receive treatment for injuries sustained in school and report to if they are feeling unwell. If your child feels too unwell to continue with his lessons, having been seen first by the school nurse, a parent/guardian will be contacted and asked to collect them. Students are not allowed to contact their parents by phone to collect them, they should always see the school nurse first who will then contact parents if required. 

Please ensure that we have your current and up-to-date contact details and the school nurse and the office staff are made aware of any alternative contacts for your child.

No pupil is allowed to leave school if they are unwell or injured unless the school nurse has spoken to a parent/guardian first. They must then be collected by a parent or delegated relative /carer and signed out in the main reception

Absence

If your child is unwell and cannot attend school, you must advise the school as soon as possible and before 8:30am by email or telephone:

Telephone: 01923 208 900

On the day they return to school, they must bring in a letter to their Form Tutor explaining the reason for their absence.

ANY PUPIL THAT HAS BEEN VOMITING AND/OR HAS DIARRHOEA MUST BE FREE FROM THIS FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL. 

Immunisations

Immunisation for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio and Meningitis ACWY takes place when your child is in Year 9 and the HPV Immunisation is also offered to Year 8 students. Nasal flu vaccine is also offered to certain year groups.  Information will be sent home in advance of the immunisations taking place. If the Health Authority proposes other immunisations, parents will be notified in the same way. 


There is a confidential service provided by School Health Nurses which is an NHS support agency. If any child requests this service appointments are made via the school nurse.

Head Injury

If any child hits their head at school for whatever reason, parents or carers will be informed and reminded about possible symptoms, as listed below:

  • Headache / Visual Disturbance
  • Dizziness /Confusion
  • Vomiting / Loss of balance
  • Loss of consciousness

    ​​Standard practise; a head injury letter will be given to your child to be sent home for guidance (when visiting the school nurse)

WBGS RUGBY CONCUSSION PROTOCOL

  • No player to return to full match play until minimum of 23 days out from date of concussion
  • Players must rest for 14 days (No Physical activity!)
  • Following 14 days of rest (Stage 1) players can begin RFU Graduated Return To Play (GRTP) at stage 2 (light aerobic exercise).
  • The next stage cannot be undertaken until 48 hours of the previous stage being completed
  • Upon completion of GRTP, after seeking medical advice from a professional to confirm there is no presence of further concussion symptoms and confirmation from a Parent/ Guardian, the player can return to play.
  • The only circumstance by which this protocol will not be followed after a suspected concussion is if the player provides the school with a letter from a medical professional to state the player did not suffer a concussion at the time of the incident

IMPORTANT:

  • Responsibility of seeking medical advice and completing GRTP is down to the player and their parent/ guardian

In accordance with RFU Guidelines, no player will return to play until a Watford Grammar School Coach/ Teacher has received confirmation (written or verbal) from a parent/guardian to say that the player has successfully followed GRTP and has been cleared to play by a medical professional.​