Medical needs in school

Your child's health, our priority - supporting medical needs with care and compassion

Medical Needs at Dawn House School:

At Dawn House School, we want every student to feel safe, healthy and ready to learn. 

Every child is different, and we support students with a wide range of medical and health needs. We work closely with families, health professionals and school staff to make sure the right support is in place for each student. 

We understand that it can be worrying when someone else is looking after your child’s medical needs. We will always work together with you to make sure we understand your child’s needs and how best to support them in school. 

Before your child starts at Dawn House, we will ask for information about any medical needs, allergies and medication. 

If needed, we will work with you and any health professionals involved in your child’s care to create a Medical Support Plan and make sure staff have the information and training they need. 

This helps us make sure your child feels safe, supported and ready to settle into life at Dawn House. 

Hi, I’m Emily, the Medical Support Coordinator here at Dawn House. 

I am here to help support students with their health and medical needs while they are in school. 

I work closely with students, families, health professionals and staff to make sure each student has the support they need. This may include creating and reviewing Medical Support Plans, managing medication, and making sure staff have the information and training they need. 

I know how important it is for parents and carers to feel confident that their child is safe and well cared for at school. I am always happy to answer any questions, talk through any concerns and work with families to make sure the right support is in place. 

If you need to tell us about a change in your child’s health, medication or medical needs, or if you would simply like some advice, please feel free to get in touch.

📧 [email protected] 

📧 [email protected] 

☎️ 01623 795361 

 

Staff at Dawn House support students with a wide range of medical needs and healthcare procedures. To ensure safe and appropriate care, staff receive training relevant to the needs of the students they support, including: 

  • Medication Administration 
  • First Aid 
  • Epilepsy (including VNS) 
  • Gastrostomy (including PEG feeds) 
  • Stoma care 
  • Asthma awareness 
  • Allergy awareness (including administering EpiPens) 

Some students may need a Medical Support Plan. 

A Medical Support Plan helps school staff understand a student’s health needs and the support they may need during the school day. Each plan is tailored to the individual student and developed in partnership with families and, where appropriate, healthcare professionals.  

Medical Support Plans are shared with relevant staff who work directly with the student so that appropriate support can be provided throughout the school day.  

We handle medical information sensitively and only share it with staff who need the information to keep your child safe and supported. 

What’s included in a Medical Support Plan? 

  • Medical conditions 
  • Allergies 
  • Medication requirements 
  • Signs a student may need support 
  • Emergency procedures 

We take allergy management very seriously at Dawn House School and work closely with families to help keep students safe. 

Our designated allergy leads at Dawn House are: 

  • Emily Fogwill, Medical Support Co-Ordinator 
  • Matt Woolass, Deputy Principal
  • Karen Lindley, School Business Administrator 

All staff at Dawn House receive allergy awareness training and are trained in how to recognise and respond to allergic reactions, including the use of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs).

We can administer medication during the school day where required. 

Our usual medication administration times are: 

  • 08:40-09:00 
  • 11:50-12:20 
  • 12:50-13:10 
  • 15:15-15:30 

If your child requires medication at a different time, please contact the Medical Team to discuss this. 

Students may occasionally need first aid for minor injuries or illnesses during the school day. 

Trained first aiders are available across the school site, and staff receive first aid training appropriate to their role. 

If a student requires first aid, appropriate treatment will be provided, and parents/carers will be informed in line with our first aid procedures. 

In a medical emergency, emergency services will be contacted, and parents/carers will be informed as soon as possible.

Working closely with families helps us provide the best possible support for our students. 

Please let the Medical Team know about: 

  • Changes to medication 
  • New diagnoses or medical conditions 
  • Hospital admissions 
  • Changes to emergency contact details 
  • Any concerns about your child’s health 

The more information we have, the better we can support your child.