Head Bump Protocol

As part of ongoing NHS guidance, we will always notify you by telephone if your child has any kind of bump to the head, no matter how minor.

A minor head injury can be a frequent occurrence in the school playground and on the sports field. Fortunately, the majority of head injuries are mild and do not lead to complications or require hospital admission. However, a small number of children do suffer from a severe injury to the brain, and concussion, (in particular repeated concussions), can be very serious.

Complications such as swelling, bruising or bleeding can happen inside the skull or inside the brain up to 48 hours after the bump to the head. The presence or absence of a lump at the site of the bump is not an indication of the severity of the head injury. 

If a child has a bump to their head at school, they will be given first aid which will include a cold compress, and the parent/carer will be contacted by phone. They will either be called to be notified that a bump has occurred and that a 'accident slip' has been placed in their bag, or to tell them that they need to come and collect the child because the school first-aider feels that the bump is serious and further medical care might be required (e.g. a visit to the doctor or local A&E).

If any of the following symptoms are noticed while the child remains in school we will ring 999.  If any of those symptoms occur up to 48 hours after the bump then parents/carers should seek advice urgently, either by calling 999 for an ambulance or going directly to A&E:

• Unconsciousness or lack of consciousness (for example problems keeping eyes open or increasing sleepiness).
• Increasingly severe headache that won’t go away.
• Problems with understanding, speaking, reading or writing, or any problems with memory.
• A change in behaviour, like being more irritable.
• Numbness or loss of feeling in any part of the body.
• Problems with balance or walking, or general weakness or clumsiness.
• Dizziness.
• Any changes in eyesight - blurred or double vision.
• Any change to the appearance of the pupils - one pupil larger than the other.
• A black eye with no associated damage around the eye.
• Any vomiting or sickness.
• Any clear fluid running from the ears or nose.
• Bleeding from the ears.
• New deafness.
• Any convulsions or having a fit.

Please visit the NHS website for more information.

Asthma

If your child is diagnosed, or is suspected of having asthma, we will ask you to send in an inhaler that will be kept in the classroom. You will be asked to complete an 'Administration of Inhaler' form, and an Asthma Card. These documents will be kept on their school record, and a physical copy kept with their inhaler in class.

Each Key Stage area in school has an emergency Salbutamol (blue) inhaler in case a child's inhaler is not in school. Parents/Carers must provide prior consent for their child to be added to the Emergency Inhaler register in advance, by doing so on the Arbor Portal.

We will inform you if your child has used an emergency inhaler.

Parents must ensure their child's profile is kept up to date with any changes to their condition and/or the emergency inhaler consent. We will remind you when an inhaler is due for expiry, however it is a parent/carer's responsibility to bring in a new in-date inhaler. This should be brought to the office and signed in by a parent or guardian.

Our full Asthma policy can be found here:

Asthma Policy

Administration of Medication in School

Our office staff are trained to administer and/or supervise and support children taking medication. All medications must be signed in at the school office by a parent / guardian using. On request, we may retain medication in school indefenitely, e.g. antihisthamines, skin creams; or we may retain on a temporary basis, e.g. antibiotics, pain relief. 

Please note per Salford LEA guidelines, we are unable to administer NSAIDs (including aspirin/ibuprofen) unless prescribed.

We will contact you in a medication being held at school is due to expire, and it is the responsibility of the parent / carer to sign in a replacement if necessary. Expired medications will be sent home via your child's class teacher.

Please do not send your child in with medication in their bag, we will not be able to administer without a signed administration of medication form.

You will find full guidance within our Policy on Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions, available below:

Policy on Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions