Drugs Education and Dealing with Drug-Related Incidents Policy
Christian values
The specific Christian Values of Love, Respect and Courage underpin, and are intrinsic to the ethos and belief of Saint James Church of England Primary School.
Our vision
At Saint James we accept challenges, take risks and work to make to make positive change in ourselves and our community. Focusing on building resilience and compassionate relationships allows everyone to flourish. Using our Christian values to guide us, we develop skills to navigate rough seas and transform our world.
Be strong and courageous and do it
1 Chronicles 28:20
Introduction
The greatest commandment Jesus taught was to love God and to love your neighbour. Within this commandment is the foundation of the Christian view of relationships. At Saint James Primary School our relationship education seeks to live out this command and explore how we can ‘love our neighbour’ through what we say and do. Our school focuses on the importance of relationships and the qualities and character needed to sustain the best relationships that honour each other whether within a friendship, family relationship or romantic relationship.
Each child is a unique being, a child of God, loved and accepted. As such, our school seeks to enable children to develop through an inclusive programme of teaching that is based on Christian principles, which both respects the human body and seeks to ensure health and wellbeing.
Saint James CoE Primary School policy on Drugs Education
Definition – What is a drug?
A drug is a substance (natural or synthetic), which, when taken into the body, changes the way we feel, the way we see things and the way our body works.
By definition, therefore, a drug includes substances, which contain caffeine (tea, coffee, and chocolate), alcohol, tobacco, solvents, slimming aids, over-the-counter medicines, steroids, prescribed drugs and illegal drugs.
In The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, illegal drugs are classified into three groups.
Class A includes for example: ecstasy, heroin, LSD, cocaine, crack, injected amphetamine.
Class B includes: amphetamines, barbiturates.
Class C are: the benzodiazepines or tranquillisers, including temazepam and valium, cannabis
Rationale
Current research indicates that drug use, both legal and illegal, is rising amongst young people. As part of the school’s care and welfare of its pupils, we believe we have a duty to inform and educate children about drug use. Drugs are a reality in children’s lives and schools share responsibility with parents and the local community to educate pupils about the risks and consequences of drug use and misuse. This school aims to encourage pupils to make healthy, informed choices by increasing their knowledge, challenging their attitudes and improving their skills. We also believe that the misuse of any drugs by members of the school community cannot be condoned and will be dealt with consistently and clearly with regard to the needs of the school and the individuals concerned.
Aims
At Saint James Church of England Primary School we aim to:
- develop a whole school approach to drug education in the context of the PSHE programme and the Science curriculum
- provide accurate information about a range of drugs, including medicines, al-cohol and tobacco
- if appropriate, clarify and respond to questions about illegal drugs and the harmful effects they can have on other people’s lives
- enable children to discuss moral questions related to drug taking, and so pro-vide a safe environment for young people to share their thoughts and ideas
- help children become more self-confident so that they are able to make sen-sible and informed decisions about their lives
- let children know what they should do if they come across/are offered drugs, or are aware of other people misusing drugs
- help children respect their own bodies and, in doing so, reduce the likelihood that they will be persuaded to become involved in drug misuse
- respond to any individual within the school community in need of support and protection
- clarify appropriate procedures in the management of drug-related incidents (see Appendix 3)
Guidelines
All pupils will follow a drug education programme which is responsive to their needs and relevant to their age, experience and maturity. It will be delivered through the existing curriculum, mainly Personal, Social, Health & Citizenship Education and some aspects of Science. The programme will provide appropriate information about drugs. It will also, through a variety of teaching approaches, enable children to explore attitudes and values and develop a range of skills. See Figure 1 for Knowledge and Understanding, Skills, and Attitudes, from Drugs – guidance for schools.
We ensure that drug issues are reinforced throughout children’s education, so matching their increasing understanding and maturity.
Conclusion
At Saint James Church of England Primary School, we believe that by educating children about the dangers of drug misuse and through staff, governors, parents and children working together, we can safeguard the well-being of all children in our care.
This policy will be reviewed biannually or sooner in the event of any changes in legislation.
This policy is written with regard to ‘Drug Matters Guidelines’, Hampshire County Council, ‘Drugs: Guidance for schools’, DFES and ‘Managing and making policy for drug-related incidents in schools’, SCODA.
Saint James CoE Primary School policy on Dealing with Drug-Related Incidents
Definition – What is a drug?
A drug is a substance (natural or synthetic) which, when taken into the body, changes the way we feel, the way we see things and the way our body works.
By definition, therefore, a drug includes substances which contain caffeine (tea, coffee, and chocolate), alcohol, tobacco, solvents, slimming aids, over-the-counter medicines, steroids, prescribed drugs and illegal drugs.
In The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, illegal drugs are classified into three groups.
Class A includes for example: ecstasy, heroin, LSD, cocaine, crack, injected amphetamine.
Class B includes: amphetamines, barbiturates.
Class C are: the benzodiazepines or tranquillisers, including temazepam and valium, cannabis
Management of drug-related incidents in school
‘In school’ is taken to mean on school premises, including buildings and grounds. The school policy also applies to off-site activities, visits and school trips. The policy will also relate to pupils’ use of the premises and grounds beyond the school day.
A designated member of staff will be responsible for co-ordinating the management of drug-related incidents. He or she will offer sources of support for individuals and families coping with drug misuse and liaise with appropriate outside agencies, e.g. EWO, school nurse. The designated member of staff is Michelle Marsh (Head teacher).
Procedures
Medicines: See school policy on administration of medicines.
Tobacco: See policy on smoking.
Alcohol: No alcohol will be consumed during the course of a normal school day when children are on site.
Volatile substances: The school will ensure that potentially harmful substances are stored safely, and pupils supervised carefully in the event of them having to be used in the course of work, e.g. aerosols and their potential risks to people with asthma or other bronchial problems.
Illegal substances: No illegal substances will be brought into school or used on school premises.
A range of sanctions will be applied following the inappropriate use or misuse of any of the substances described above by any member of the school community on the school premises or while on school trips and visits.
To protect the health and safety of everyone in the school, regular checks will be made of the site by the caretaker to ensure that any drug paraphernalia is cleared away.
Sanctions, in line with LEA and DFEE guidelines will be applied for: -
- possession of any drug with the suspected intention to misuse
- misuse of drugs on school premises
- supplying/dealing drugs for the purpose of misuse
Dealing with drug-related incidents
Our school believes we should be a community free of drug misuse. Illegal substances should not be brought into school and use or supply of drugs on the school premises will be regarded with the utmost seriousness.
When dealing with emergencies and any situation involving drugs without medical authority this school will follow guidance as set out in Managing and making policy for drug-related incidents in schools, Scoda, 1999. (See Figure 2 – Situations involving drug without medical authority).
Any substance deserving investigation will be handed to the police. A record of all drug-related situations, i.e. Emergency/intoxication, Suspicion ON/OFF premises, Discovery ON/OFF premises, Pupil disclosure, Parental use, Parent/carer expresses concern etc will be kept by our drug co-ordinator, Michelle Marsh. (See Figure 3 – format for recording drug-related situations). Evidence of drug use by a pupil or possession of a substance will be dealt with appropriately. Each case will be assessed and different levels of sanctions will be used according to the seriousness of the incident and the pupil’s involvement. Fixed-term or permanent exclusions of pupils may be used where appropriate.
If any member of staff suspects that a pupil is under the influence of a drug or possesses a drug while on the premises, then he/she must inform the drug co-ordinator who will deal with the matter and any pupil/s involved. If a pupil is found possessing a drug then the member of staff should take or confiscate the drug and report the incident to the drug co-ordinator. When reporting the incident, the member of staff should also hand the ‘drug’ to the drug co-ordinator. In the unlikely event that a pupil refuses to hand over a drug then follow the guidelines below.
Searching
Storage areas including children’s trays/desks remain the property of the school. The head teacher or deputy head teacher may authorise a search of these when there is reasonable cause to suspect the presence of prohibited items. Such searches will be carried out in the presence of a witness. Staff should not carry out searches of a pupil’s property or person. If it is necessary to search a pupil’s property or person, the assistance of a police officer will be required and parents will need to be informed as soon as possible.
Advice and support
Information about local drug and support services are available for pupils, parents and staff if needed.
Media
The school will adopt the approach to media enquiries promoted by Hampshire County Council Press office. Bearing in mind that freelance journalists and news agencies can syndicate stories, together with the interest in drug-related incidents in school, responses to media enquiries must be handled carefully.
Staff development
All staff need to:
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understand and support the rationale and aims of drug education
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be aware of the legal implications and their responsibilities.
Conclusion
At Saint James Church of England Primary School we believe that by educating children about the dangers of drug misuse and through staff, governors, parents and children working together, we can safeguard the well being of all children in our care.
This policy will be reviewed biannually or sooner in the event of any changes in legislation.
This policy is written with regard to ‘Drug Matters Guidelines’, Hampshire County Council.