Here you will find health information and presentations on various topics including anaphylaxis, asthma, epilepsy, hearing, continence and oral health. They are designed to support school staff to have a greater awareness of health issues concerning children and young people in a school setting.
Statutory guidance about the support that pupils with medical conditions should receive at school is available.
This has a medicine administration template alongside guidance around how to develop policies for the children in your school with medical conditions.
Guide to health services for five to 11-year-olds
NHS Kent and Medway's toolkit for parents has useful information about where to go for help, advice on common childhood health problems and items you should keep at home in a medicine cabinet. It also has information about which vaccinations children need and tips on good mental health.
Sessions
Please note that the anaphylaxis, asthma and epilepsy virtual sessions offer basic awareness. Kent School Health are unable to offer any face-to-face sessions. When booking it is advised that staff register individually for the sessions to receive a certificate of attendance. We understand that some staff may prefer to attend in groups, however only the staff member that registered will receive a certificate of attendance.
These sessions are not compatible to view on mobile phones.
Aim: To raise awareness of anaphylaxis and the emergency administration of medicines.
Learning outcomes:
- have a basic understanding of anaphylaxis and how to recognise the signs and symptoms of a reaction
- be able to identify potential triggers for anaphylaxis and understand how to reduce the risk of a reaction
- develop a basic understanding of how to respond effectively to an allergic or anaphylactic reaction within a school setting, including use of emergency medication according to a management plan
- and develop a basic understanding of why adrenaline auto-injectors are used for anaphylaxis, how to administer them correctly and how they should be stored in a school.
If a child has been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector, it will be an EpiPen, a Jext Pen or an Emerade Pen. You can find demonstration videos on how to administer each of the pens below:
These videos should be viewed prior to accessing the anaphylaxis awareness session.
Schools are able to purchase an adrenaline auto-injector without a prescription if they wish to, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. Guidance for this can be found at Spare Pens in Schools.
It is strongly recommended that school staff attend a virtual anaphylaxis awareness session annually which can be booked below. A narrated session is also available to access in the interim if required.
Sessions available to book for Anaphylaxis
These sessions are not compatible to view on mobile phones.
- Anaphylaxis awareness on 14 January 2025 at 3.45pm
- Anaphylaxis awareness on 23 April 2025 at 3.45pm
- Anaphylaxis awareness on 8 July 2025 at 3.45pm
Anaphylaxis awareness presentation
Anaphylaxis awareness presentation to support the understanding of Anaphylaxis and the use of Adrenaline Auto Injectors in a learning environment, according to a health care plan. Please note we have provided three links to videos provided by the EpiPen, Jext and Emerade manufacturers which demonstrate the correct administration technique for each adrenaline auto injector you are likely to have for the child or young person in your care. These videos should be viewed alongside this presentation.
Useful websites
- Allergy UK
- Anaphylaxis UK
- The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI)
- Spare Pens in Schools
- Guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools
- EpiPen
- Jext
- Emerade
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can an expired auto-injector be used if required?
A: Yes, if the adrenaline auto-injector is out of date and you do not have a spare, an expired pen can be given. Research has shown that it will be less effective than an in-date pen, however it is better than not giving the pen at all
Q: Can a child or young person be in school if they do not have their prescribed adrenaline auto-injector?
A: This is not an ideal situation and needs urgent attention to ensure an adrenaline auto-injector is available in school for them as soon as possible. However, a child or young person can be in school without their pen but if they are showing signs of having an anaphylactic reaction, follow their management plan and immediately call 999 and inform the operator that their adrenaline auto-injector is not in available.
Q: Will all children and young people be prescribed two adrenaline auto-injectors?
A: Not all children or young people will be prescribed two adrenaline auto-injectors. This will be the decision of the prescriber and should be clearly documented in the management plan. It is not down to the parents/carers or school staff to decide how many auto-injectors the child or young person should have prescribed to them.
Q: If we know a child or young person has consumed or had contact with a known trigger should we wait for signs of a reaction before administering their auto-injector?
A: Yes, monitor closely for signs of a reaction using ABC symptom chart and follow the management plan.
Contact Kent School Health
0300 123 5205
kentchft.kentschoolhealth@nhs.net
Aim: To raise awareness of asthma and the administration of medicines.
Learning outcomes
- have an awareness of what asthma is and be able to recognise the symptoms
- be aware of what may trigger asthma symptoms
- understand the treatment of asthma
- know about asthma management plans and what your responsibilities are
- be aware of the guidance on emergency inhalers
- know what to do in the event of an emergency
Asthma + Lung UK and Beat Asthma have demonstration videos on how each different type of inhaler should be correctly used. It would be useful to watch these videos alongside attending the virtual asthma awareness session.
Schools are able to purchase a salbutamol inhaler without a prescription for use in emergencies when a child or young person with asthma cannot access their own inhaler. Emergency asthma inhalers for use in schools guidance gives schools the basis to create a policy or protocol for using this.
NHS Kent and Medway has launched the Asthma Friendly Schools scheme, in partnership with Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership, to improve asthma awareness and management in schools across Kent and Medway.
To sign up or find more information about the programme, please contact kmicb.asthmafriendlyschools@nhs.net.
It is strongly recommended that school staff attend a virtual asthma awareness session annually which can be booked below. A narrated session is available to access in the interim if required.
Sessions available to book for Asthma
These sessions are not compatible to view on mobile phones.
- Asthma awareness on 15 January 2025 at 3.45pm
- Asthma awareness on 22 April 2025 at 3.45pm
- Asthma awareness on 10 July 2025 at 3.45pm
Asthma awareness presentation
Asthma awareness presentation to support the understanding of Asthma and the correct use of inhalers in a learning environment, according to a health care plan. Please note we have provided a link to video demonstrations demonstrating the correct use of inhalers with a spacer device. This video should be viewed alongside this presentation.
Useful websites
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can a child or young person be in school if they do not have their inhaler?
A: Although this is not an ideal situation and does need urgent attention to ensure a prescribed inhaler is available, yes, a child can be in school if their inhaler is not available. However, if they are showing signs of requiring their inhaler follow their management plan, call 999 immediately and inform the operator that their inhaler is not available.
Q: How often do inhalers/spacers need to be changed/reviewed?
A: Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring that their child has an in-date inhaler in school. The box the inhaler comes in has an expiry date on it. It would also be useful for school to make a note of when inhalers are due to expire so parents/carers can be reminded if needed. Spacers should be replaced at least once every year.
Q: Can an expired inhaler be used if required?
A: Yes, if the inhaler is out of date and you do not have a spare, an expired inhaler can be given. However, it may be less effective than an in-date inhaler.
Q: Should a management plan be in place for any new pupils before they start school?
A: Good practice would ensure that an asthma management plan is in place before a pupil starts school. However, if the parent/carer has not been able to obtain one in time this should not prevent the child or young person from starting school at the correct time.
Contact Kent School Health
0300 123 5205
kentchft.kentschoolhealth@nhs.net
Aim: To raise awareness of epilepsy, seizure first-aid, and the administration of buccal midazolam.
Learning outcomes
- have an awareness of epilepsy, types of seizures, possible triggers and the treatment options
- be able to provide care and support to a child/young person during and after an epileptic seizure including how to administer emergency medication according to a management plan
- know how to correctly store medications in schools
- understand the importance of the seizure management plan and the necessity of documentation.
It is strongly recommended that school staff attend a virtual epilepsy awareness session annually which can be booked below. Please note there is not a narrated presentation available for epilepsy awareness, however school staff can access the following epilepsy awareness and seizure first aid e-learning on the Epilepsy Action website in the interim:
Available sessions to book for Epilepsy
These sessions are not compatible to view on mobile phones.
- Epilepsy awareness on 13 January 2025 at 3.45pm
- Epilepsy awareness on 24 April 2025 at 3.45pm
- Epilepsy awareness on 9 July 2025 at 3.45pm
Useful websites
Frequently asked questions
Q: How do I put a child or young person in the recovery position?
A: Please see NHS guidance on recovery position advice.
Q: A child or young person in my school is prescribed a different medication than what was discussed in the Kent School Health epilepsy awareness session. How do I gain advice for this?
A: In this situation, please speak to the child or young person’s specialist epilepsy nurse/team for advice. The child or young person’s parent/carer should know their contact details.
Q: Should I call an ambulance in the event of every seizure a child or young person has?
A: This is dependent on the individual child or young person, please follow their management plan as not every child or young person may require an ambulance. If they are not known to have seizures 999 should be called immediately.
Contact Kent School Health
0300 123 5205
kentchft.kentschoolhealth@nhs.net
To raise awareness of the importance of hearing screening in school-age children.
Aim: To raise awareness of steps schools can take to support children
Objectives: By the end of the session participants will understand:
- the importance of achieving continence
- how the bladder works
- why a child may wet
- advice and support school can offer
- referring to the Kent School Health Team.
Become an oral health champion
Do you have a passion for oral health and want to help support toothbrushing and low sugar diets at your school?
Oral health champions receive updates and information and the chance to attend webinars to get tips to help support local families.
Email kentchft.oralhealthkent@nhs.net or visit www.kentcht.nhs.uk/happyteeth for more information.
Primary school children
Presentation created by our Oral Health Team to raise awareness of good oral health in primary aged children.
- KCHFT oral health promotion resources
- Delivering better oral health
- PHE top tips for teeth
- PHSE association dental health teacher guidance
- PHE oral health lesson plans
- PHE Sugar awareness lesson plans: