A Study Guide on Children's Health
Introduction
Welcome to your study guide on children's health.
The aim of this guide is to enable you to learn more about a range of common health issues facing children in schools. While the guide has been developed mainly for students following a primary education pre-service course, a great deal of the information contained will be helpful to school teachers and students undertaking training in secondary school education, community education and social work.
The guide provides basic, general information and does not attempt to replicate medical guidelines. It focuses on the practical nature of dealing with a range of health conditions, in a succinct and informative way.
The health promoting school
The concept of the health promoting school has become central to the health and well-being of all its members. There are three key aspects, which combine to provide a vehicle for promoting and maintaining health:
- time allocated within the curriculum for health education;
- the personal, social and emotional development of pupils and care of staff through the ethos of the school;
- the links established with families and external services such as health and social work.
A natural part of the health promoting ethos is the support for pupils with health difficulties, including childhood illnesses or infections and conditions such as asthma or epilepsy. Young people can be protected from isolation and stigma by the encouragement, care and understanding of staff and the support of fellow pupils.
An integral part of the health promoting school is the role played by the school health services in providing information to schools and families about a range of health issues and in their active involvement within each school. You will find that provision varies within each area; local guidelines on support services should be consulted.
Good relationships with parents are essential to the health promoting school. In particular, children with health difficulties and their families want to be reassured that the school community offers full support. This can be achieved where there is a climate of trust established and parents are fully consulted.
The Administration of Medicines in School
The Scottish Executive has prepared guidance entitled "The Administration of Medicines in Schools". This gives advice on the respective roles of Health and Education professionals, the development of school policies, the preparation of health care plans and the administration and storage of medicine in schools. It also contains advice on the types of training required by school staff who agree to administer medication to pupils.
Staff who provide intimate care
All councils have guidelines and procedures for Child Protection. These ensure the safety and well-being of young people. They also provide protection and support for those adults working with young people. (The Scottish Office (1998 ) Protecting Children: A Shared Responsibility. Edinburgh: The Scottish Office.)
Guidelines have also been published to support staff working with children and young people with special educational needs, where intimate care is required (Scottish Office Education and Industry Department (1999) Helping Hands: Guidelines for Staff who provide Intimate Care for Children and Young People with Disabilities Edinburgh: The Scottish Office.) This report provides guidance based on existing good practice in a wide range of schools.
Working in schools.
It is helpful, when working in or with schools, to ensure that you are familiar with the policies and strategies implemented by staff to support young people. Schools should have copies of key government policy documents and local council guidelines and procedures. The following checklist may be helpful.
- Scottish Executive guidance on handling medicines: The Administration of
- Medicines in Schools
- Local council guidelines on handling children's medicines
- School policy for dealing with accidents in school
- Local council guidelines and procedures for child protection
- General information on health service provision for the school
- School policy on disseminating information about children's conditions,
- both to other children and to parents
- School policy on appropriate storage of medication
- Guidelines specific to staff who provide intimate care for children with disabilities
Additional reading
Information about a wide range of childhood illnesses and infections is provided in Dr Sandy Irvine's book, A Guide to Child Health in the Primary School, published by the Health Education Board for Scotland (1997).
Materials for further refernce
Aberdeen City Council, Health Education Board for Scotland, Audit Unit HM Inspectors of Schools (1999) A Route to Health Promotion. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Education Department.
Scottish Executive (1999). Health Promotion: Issues for Councils and Schools. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive.
TACADE (1996). Developing a Health Promoting Primary School. Manchester: TACADE.
Weare, K. (2000). Promoting Mental, Emotional and Social Health: A Whole School Approach. London: Routledge.
Using the guide
The guide is divided into six units:
1. Asthma;
2. Common childhood illnesses;
3. Diabetes;
4. Epilepsy;
5. First aid basics;
6. Head lice.
The guide is structured in a way that will enable individuals, pairs or small groups to work on each of the units. You will find that the format is similar throughout the guide.
Each unit contains the following sections:
How will this unit help me? This section outlines the aims and outcomes for the unit.
Setting the scene . This brief section provides an indication of the key symptoms or issues relating to the topic.
Developing your understanding. This section provides activities designed to increase your knowledge and understanding of the topic. You may wish to undertake these on your own or with a partner or in a small group. In most cases, there are web sites identified for further exploration.
What would you do? You are given situations that may arise in the school and asked to consider ways of dealing with them. Suggested action is outlined.
Want to know more? The final section of each unit provides you with sources of information for further reading and a range of agency and web site addresses. These are considered useful background reading and references for students involved in initial teacher education. They are not intended as recommendations for classroom use.