Health & Safety · Effective April 2026
Administering Medicine Policy
We will administer medicines safely and in accordance with guidance from the Department for Education and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Policy Statement
At Living Heritage Nursery, we are committed to supporting children's health and wellbeing. Medicines will only be administered when necessary and in line with this policy and EYFS guidance.
General Principles
- Medicines will only be administered when prescribed by a doctor, dentist, nurse, or pharmacist
- Medicines must be in original packaging with child's name, prescribed dosage, and date
- Written parental consent is required before administering any medicine
- No child will be given medicine containing aspirin unless prescribed
Non-Prescription Medicines
- We will only administer non-prescription medicines (e.g. Calpol) if absolutely necessary
- Written consent is required
- Dosage instructions must be clearly followed
- Parents must provide the medicine
Storage of Medicines
- Medicines are stored in a secure, locked cupboard
- Medicines requiring refrigeration are clearly labelled and separated
- Emergency medication (e.g. inhalers, EpiPens) is easily accessible, clearly labelled
Administration Procedure
Before administering medicine, staff will:
- Check the child's name and medication
- Confirm dosage and timing
- Wash hands
- Administer medication as instructed
Record Keeping
- We maintain a Medicine Record Form including: child's name, medicine name, dosage, time, and staff signature
- A second staff member should witness where possible
- Parent/carer will be informed after administration
Monitoring & Review
This policy is reviewed annually and updated in line with statutory guidance.
This policy was effective April 2026 and is due for review by April 2027. All policies are reviewed annually or sooner if statutory guidance changes.