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Make the most of
your school nurse
PuPils with asthma have
said that their needs are not
Caroline
understood at school, and that
Voogd
teachers lack confidence in
Guest
dealing with the condition in
Editorial
the classroom.
it was part of an event at the house of Commons on
world Asthma Day (May 5) marking the release of the
Missing Out report by charity Asthma uK, which i attended
in my role as the editor of the British Journal of School
Nursing, SecEd’s sister publication.
At the event, children with asthma were invited to share
their experiences of the condition in the school environment.
Many expressed frustration that often their condition
is either not taken seriously enough (placing them at
unnecessary risk) or is taken too seriously (banning them
from taking part in certain activities). One of the pupils
PM’s plans under fire
explained to me that she was banned from some chemistry
lessons because she was considered a liability, and that she
tEAChERs hAVE dismissed a union of teachers, said that
has been unable to attend many school trips.
speech by Gordon Brown, in which Gordon Brown did not win many schools already work with parents
unfortunately her case is not unique, and many of he outlined plans to allow greater and governors to ensure that
the children shared experiences where school policies or
parental influence over the running
friends last week when he hinted
information is fully available to
recommendations did not respond to their needs.
of schools, as nothing more than an the local community, and that the
attempt to win votes.
at what can be expected from the
existing complaints procedures in
Obviously, i would not expect teachers to necessarily
speaking to headteachers in
know all about asthma. You have many other pressures
latest education White Paper, to be
place in every school allowed for
south london last week, the prime full investigation.
to manage on top of the few children in your class with
minister said that under plans in a published next month. Chris Parr reports she added: “Parents can look
asthma. however, you do have a wonderful resource
new white Paper, local councils at, and analyse, Ofsted reports and
available – the school nurse.
would be obliged to take action they can of course visit schools.
if “significant dissatisfaction” was populist attempt to win desperately its focus on parents and local secondary schools are already
One thing teachers could do quite easily is to gain
voiced by local parents. needed votes by Mr Brown. i’m all authorities. subject to enough myth about how
information from school nurses on the condition and how to this action could include for parent power, but he might be Chris Keates, general secretary good or bad they are. the National
respond in an emergency situation such as an asthma attack.
federating the school in question better served empowering teachers of the National Association of Challenge, and often the local press,
teachers and heads should also be aware of other
with a nearby “good” school, or by listening to their concerns and schoolmasters union of women already paints an inaccurate picture
services school nurses can provide, in terms of health
opening an entirely new school. acting on them.” teachers, said: “we share the about how a school is faring. this
Mr Brown said: “we will look at Another teacher, who asked to prime minister’s view that parents initiative for parents is simply
promotion, for example. school nurses are often trained to
how local authorities can improve remain anonymous, added: “if i am have an important role to play in another piece of populist spin.”
provide some PshE lessons and are in an ideal position to their knowledge of what parents cynical, i think this is just Gordon supporting their child’s education Meanwhile, Nancy Ellis, head
do so as health professionals and outsiders.
want, and how satisfied they are Brown trying to catch a few votes and in ensuring that children attend of education at the Association of
Asthma uK wants to see school nurses play a greater
with their local schools. where by promising parents what they school ready to learn. teachers and lecturers, said she was
there is significant dissatisfaction want. “Mr Brown’s proposals “losing all faith” in the government,
role in schools. they are in an ideal position, as the Missing
with the pattern of secondary school “As usual, it will be the articulate emphasise the importance of and that the speech was nothing more
Out report says, to “bridge the gap” between schools
provision, and where standards parents who think they are being the strategic leadership of local than an attempt to “score brownie
and the health service by helping schools to implement a across the area are too low, then given ‘real powers’ when all that authorities in listening to the views points” against opposition parties.
medical conditions policy and training teachers on common
the local authority will be required is happening is that he is paying lip of parents and should contribute to in addition to increasing parent
conditions.
to act.” service to the whingeing minority ensuring that education provision in power, next month’s white Paper is
however, ian McNeilly, an who want a private education at a an area is not left to the vagaries of also expected to detail plans to give
some examples of great support were mentioned at
English teacher at Brantwood public price.” market forces with the consequent schools and teachers more freedom,
the event, where heads, teachers and school nurses all
school in sheffield, felt the speech the speech prompted a mixed adverse impact on many children, after Mr Brown admitted that the
worked together. these schools often had teachers with
was a blatant attempt to curry favour response from the teaching unions, schools and families.” role of central government in the
an understanding of the condition, an asthma policy, a
among voters. with some dismissing it as “populist however, Christine Blower, education system in England had
medicine management policy, arrangements for special
he said: “this is a transparent, spin”, while others welcomed general secretary of the National become “overly large”. SecEd
help when pupils are missing school, and access to nurses.
however, these examples of good practice are still too rare.
IN rESpONSE…
Better asthma management and understanding of the
condition by staff and pupils alike could hugely benefit
Dear sir on to achieve grade D and below Dear sir, i recently delivered
asthmatic students and help reduce school absence and
at the end of the course. At grade an educational session to
i would have to agree with the E and below, especially, they still i was delighted to read the article independent school nurses, who
hospital admittance. school nurses can help ensure that there
labour party spokesperson need to improve basic literacy in SecEd which posed the question: were a highly motivated group
are individual management plans in place to enable asthma in the SecEd article last week skills and broaden vocabulary. “would you know what to do if a who knew their pupils with
sufferers to take part in activities and excursions. they can
(Literature figures spark row, For these students, we substitute child had a serious asthma attack asthma by name and ensured they
also help to reduce the stigma of asthma by explaining
SecEd 212, thursday, May 7). a modern novel in an attempt in your classroom?” (SecEd 212, had healthcare plans in place with
All children do shakespeare, to make the curriculum more thursday, May 7). regular review.
the condition to pupils, which in turn would reduce peer-
and study literature: shakespeare accessible, and to provide more i work as the asthma nurse this is the level of care all
pressure and bullying.
is part of the English GCsE, and appropriate reading experiences. specialist at the Royal hospital for children deserve and i would hope
however, most school nurses often find themselves the English course also contains, with students on the C/D sick Children in Edinburgh and that this will become a reality rather
divided between a large number of schools, which means
as compulsory elements, drama, borderline, we are more committed school-related issues are at the top than an ideal. within lothian in
much of their time is spent safeguarding or rolling out new
poetry and the novel – covering to English as it has a more direct of my agenda. Children spend 50 scotland, we are fortunate to have
the three literary genres. this is bearing on future educational and per cent of the year in the care recognised training for teaching
initiatives such as the hPV (cervical cancer) vaccination,
a typical politicians’ argument of career prospects, and to some of teachers and support staff and support staff on asthma
leaving them little time to support teachers with pupils who
course, as within his own frame extent, for some students, this and it would seem reasonable through the CPD framework.
have special health needs, such as those with asthma.
of reference the Conservative is affects our entry for literature. for parents/carers to leave their these sessions are widely
school nurses have a vital role to play in supporting pupils
right too – fewer have done the if there has been a decline in children with responsible adults attended, although i would urge
and staff, as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle and helping
English literature exam. literature entries over the past who could deal with the most every member of staff to attend,
Our entry tends to vary five years, it has coincided with common childhood medical as they often clarify issues which
to reduce childhood obesity and teenage pregnancies. there is
according to the ability and an increased emphasis on using condition. can cause confusion.
much scope for teachers and school nurses to work together aptitude of the year group. the results from key stage 3 i am very sympathetic towards Asthma uK quotes a figure of
to ensure that pupils are in the best health to gain the most
we enter for literature all tests as a significant measure of teaching staff, as they not only 91 paediatric emergency hospital
out of their education.
those whom we feel would attain teacher performance, and with teach the children, but they are admissions per day for asthma,
As it stands, however, the workforce is simply too small
a C, possibly a D, or enjoy/ the disproportionate weighting of now expected to deal with a which makes the reality of a child
benefit from the course. in our shakespeare within the key stage potentially life-threatening medical having an attack at school highly
and the workload too heavy to be able to offer the levels of
two-year syllabus most children 3 English test. the arguments condition, often without any likely.
care and support that children deserve. SecEd have a similar experience, about this are well rehearsed – and additional training. i would urge all schools to
whether or not they do literature: it has affected children’s attitudes Asthma uK’s plea to employ implement an asthma policy and
• Caroline Voogd is editor of secEd’s sister publication, the
all do shakespeare, poetry, two to shakespeare. in schools where more school nurses is an ideal set up training for all staff caring
novels, and a work of modern literature is an option, i suspect this way to deal with the demands on for these pupils – Asthma uK has
British Journal of school Nursing (www.school-nursing.
drama. may have had an impact. teachers’ time. the level of support resources (www.asthma.org.uk).
co.uk). This editorial was written in response to the article
For GCsE literature, the from the school nursing team is
would you know what to do? published in secEd on study of a text written before Colin Shaw minimal, due to the pressures of the Ann McMurray
Thursday, May 7. For more responses, see letters (right).
1910 is required; for this we Head of English number of the schools they cover, Asthma Nurse Specialist
Send your views and letters to editor@sec-ed.co.uk
choose Dickens, which is very Hanham High School and the introduction of the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children
challenging for students who go Bristol hPV (cervical cancer) vaccine. Edinburgh
6 SecEd • May 14 2009
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