The aim of this policy is to acknowledge and clarify the schools’ role in drug prevention and education and ensure it is appropriate to pupils’ needs. The policy provides information and guidance about drug education, as well as procedures to respond to any drug-related incident, for pupils, teachers, support-staff and outside agencies or individuals.

The policy aims to ensure that the approach taken on the issue of drugs is a whole-school one and is part of our commitment to and concern for the health and well-being of the whole school community. Teachers will need to be confident and skilled to teach drug education and pupils need to receive up to date, relevant and accurate information as well as support.

This policy aims to make clear procedures for responding to and managing drug-related incidents. Sanctions for incidents will be consistent with the school’s behaviour policy. This policy should also be read in conjunction with the PSHE policy, medicines policy, health and safety/smoking policy, SEN and discipline/behaviour policy. As a matter of course, all staff, parents/carers and pupils are reminded of this policy on an annual basis. This policy applies at all times to the school premises, school transport as well as school visits/trips/fieldwork/ residential etc.

Definition: “Drugs” are taken here to mean those that are legal, such as alcohol, tobacco and solvents, over the counter and prescribed drugs, and illegal drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamines, heroin, crack/cocaine, LSD etc

The school believes that the possession and or use of such drugs in school, during the school day or while traveling to/from school is inappropriate. The drugs/substances covered by this policy are not to be bought, sold or otherwise exchanged or brought onto school premises during the school day, or while pupils are on school visits. Individual exceptions may be made for pupils who require prescription medicines where appropriate.

Medicines

Certain prescribed medicines are allowed into the school. If a child is on long or short-term medication a form of consent, for the administration of this medicine by a member of staff is needed.
Non-prescription medicines are allowed into school only if accompanied by a letter from parents.

Drug Education Programme

Aims:

•         to enable children to become accurately informed on the effects, good or bad, of drugs on health and make healthy informed choices.
•        to enable children to experience up to date coverage of the risks and legal aspects of drug taking.
•        to give children the opportunity to develop their abilities to communicate their concerns and take responsible decisions.

It is felt that drug education should start at least two to three years before the likely age of experimentation.

Age 5 - 7 children should be introduced to ideas about how to keep healthy and the role of drugs as medicines.

Age 7 - 11 children should be introduced to the fact that while all medicines are drugs, not all drugs are medicines. They should also begin to be aware of the harmful effects on health of abuse of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

Where planning permits, Drugs Education will also be taught at other times. We hope to ensure that drug issues are reinforced throughout the child’s education, so matching their increasing understanding and maturity.

Outside agencies may be involved in the planning and teaching of the drug education programme and will be asked to adhere to our school policy.

The Drug Education programme will provide opportunities for pupils to:

• Explore attitudes and values around drug misuse
• Practise decision making skills
• Become aware of peer pressure
• Develop assertiveness skills
• Consider the consequences of risk taking
• Learn how to access sources of help and information
• Emphasise the benefits of a healthy lifestyle
• Evaluate media messages on drug use

Pastoral Support

The school acknowledges the importance of its pastoral role and will support all concerned in ensuring the well being of all its pupils.

Parents will be encouraged to become involved as much as possible in order to achieve a successful drug education programme.

All incidents or concerns will be logged by the Headteacher or his representative. Parents will also be informed, unless lined to an abuse case, and provisions made for any outside professional help, such as police officers or health professionals.

Where illegal substances are involved these outside agencies will automatically be informed.

If a pupil voluntarily discloses information about drug abuse it is important to:

• Not over re-act
• List to the pupil’s point of view
• Not jump to conclusions

Staff should not guarantee confidentiality, as they may have to inform other staff or the police.

Managing Drug Related Incidents in School

‘In school’ is taken to mean on school premises, including buildings and grounds. The school premises also apply 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.

Hearsay

Drug use is often discovered by hearsay. This should be passed onto the designated member of staff who should record the matter as hearsay evidence. This will enable a record to be compiled of teachers’ concerns and where necessary help and support offered to the pupil. Where the hearsay evidence is not supported through further reports or incidents for one calendar year the evidence will be removed from the records.

Suspicious Behaviour

Behaviour that could indicate involvement with drugs should also be logged so that patterns of behaviour can be observed and concerns acted upon where necessary.

Finding Substances

If a harmful, illegal substance is discovered it should be removed to a place of safe keeping in the presence of a witness from the teaching staff. If the substance is known or suspected to be illegal the police must be informed.

If a substance is found on a pupil the above procedure should be followed and the incident recorded including:

• the date and time of the find or retrieval
• the size and appearance of the substance
• the names of those concerned
• the action taken

If any equipment associated with drug misuse is discovered the items should be handled with care. The incident should be recorded and in the case of items such as needles and syringes they should be placed in a secure and rigid container for collection by the appropriate person. If these are found on pupils, the pupil’s parents should be informed.

Searching

Storage areas within the school grounds are the property of the school and the headteacher or his representative may authorise a search of these if there is a reasonable suspicion. The search must be carried out in the presence of a witness and the named pupil if this applies. Staff should not search a pupil’s property or person but should try to persuade the pupil to voluntarily produce the substance by asking him to turn out his/her pockets or bag. Please refer to our Search and Confiscation Policy.

Finding Drug Misuse

If children are found in possession of tobacco, alcohol, glue, solvents or prescribed or over the counter medicines, parents will be informed and appropriate steps taken.

In an emergency arising from an incident involving abuse, the well being of the pupil is paramount.  In all instances:

• separate the child involved from the rest of the group
• decide and implement the next best step in terms of the child’s welfare
• inform parents

Supplying Illegal Substances

It is an offence to produce or supply any controlled drug on school premises. The police will be involved in such circumstances.

Returning Articles which have been confiscated

Articles confiscated that are not required by the police must be returned to parents. They will be informed in writing within 24 hours of articles confiscated and an explanation given as to why it is inappropriate to return the articles to the child. It will be made clear that there is a time limit of one week for the items to be recovered or they will be disposed of by the school.

Staff Development

All staff need to:

• understand and support the rationale and aims of drug education

• be aware of the legal implications and their responsibilities

It is hoped that, by staff, governors, parents and children themselves working together, we can safeguard the well being of all pupils in our care by educating them about the dangers of drug abuse.

The policy will be reviewed every two years or sooner in the event of any changes in legislation.

Schemes of work

Drug Education: The school provides a planned drug education curriculum through the following:

(i) The National Curriculum science order outlines the content of the statutory drugs education:

• Key Stage 3, 11-14 year olds should be taught that abuse of alcohol, solvents, tobacco and other drugs affects health; that the body’s natural defences may be enhanced by immunisation and medicines; and how smoking affects lung structure and gas exchange
• Key Stage 4, 14-16 year olds should be taught the effects of solvents, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs on body functions

(ii) Other discretionary topics will be delivered through PSHE and P4C and will reflect knowledge, understanding, attitudes and social skills that will:

• Enable pupils to make healthy, informed choices
• Promote positive attitudes to healthy lifestyles
• Provide accurate information about substances
• Increase understanding about the implications and possible consequences of use and misuse
• Widen understanding about related health and social issues
• Enable young people to identify sources of appropriate advice and personal support

The content of the Drug Education Programme will be based on Appendix 2 of Drugs: guidance for schools. Full details can be found in the school PSHE policy.

On the whole, it will be teachers who will teach drug education but, where appropriate, outside visitors may make a contribution. Such visitors should be used in a planned way and be their contributions evaluated. Teachers will have access to on-going advice, support and training as part of their own professional development. The school actively cooperates with agencies such as the LEA, police, health and drug agencies.

Responses to a Drug Related Incident -

see flowchart of responses(Appendix 3)

• Guidance on responding to drug related incident in school can be found in ‘Drugs Guidance for Schools, 2012’.
• It is the responsibility of the Headteacher and governors to ensure that ALL school staff, governors, parents and pupils have had the opportunity to contribute to and understand the school drug policy, and the procedures for dealing with an incident.

Recording and Reporting

A record of any drug related incident should be reported on the Education Authority’s Reporting Form.  (See Appendix 2).  A copy of this must be sent to Hilary Pollard the Drug Education Consultant.  The school should decide who is responsible for completing and returning the copy.  Any copies stored in school should be confidential and not attached to the pupils’ file.

If there are no incidents to report then a ‘nil return’ should be emailed to Hilary Pollard at the end of each term.  Again, the school should decide who is responsible for doing this.

Confidentiality

It is important that any action taken is in the best interests of the pupils concerned, the whole school and the wider community.

There may be occasions where, although not legally obliged to do so, the school will feel it appropriate to inform parents and/or police.

The school has a statutory responsibility to breach confidentiality:

-        Where there is a child protection issue

-        Were the life of a person is at risk.

Health and Safety

Where the health and safety of pupils are at immediate risk through intoxication or collapse, the school should act in accordance with the First Aid Policy and Practice.

Any substance found in the vicinity of the incident and any information offered by friends or peers regarding the incident should be given to paramedics on their arrival.

Pastoral Care and Support for Pupils at Risk

The school should seek to provide all pupils with support and guidance through the pastoral system.  Where pupils are identified as being at risk, every effort should be made to ensure that they receive the appropriate balance of support and guidance, to enable them and their families/carers to overcome difficulties.

There are ranges of specialist agencies, which can provide support for both individuals and for their families.  See attached contact numbers for local support agencies relating to drugs (see Appendix 1).

A list of these agencies, with contact addresses and telephone numbers, should be displayed in areas accessible to both pupils and parents/carers.

Involvement of Parents/Carers

The school should acknowledge the importance of working in partnership and sharing the responsibility of education with parents/carers.  This is achieved by keeping them informed and involved at all times.

Effective communication with parents/carers is essential to the successful implementation of this policy.

Parents’ sessions should be offered on a regular basis to provide information and guidance to parents relating to drugs.  Hilary Pollard can be contacted to facilitate these sessions.  

Police Involvement

The school reserves the right, where appropriate, to contact the police in relation to any incident involving drugs.

There is no legal obligation on the school to inform the police of incidents, although it should be recognised that they might be able to provide relevant support and advice.

Parents/carers should be contacted where there is police involvement.

Dealing with Rumour and Hearsay

The school will deal responsibly with any information through rumour and hearsay.

A record should be kept of the incident and the action taken.

Dealing with the Media

The Headteacher should be the point of contact in dealing with the media.  A statement should be made that includes the fact that:

The school does not condone any type of drug misuse.

The school has appropriate Drug Policies and educational programmes in place to support this.

The Local Authority Press Officer can provide advice and support when dealing with the Media.

Possession and Disposal

• Where a substance is found or confiscated on the premises, the Headteacher should be informed immediately and prompt action taken to ensure disposal.
• Disposal is achieved by:

        -        Disposing of the substance in the presence of a witness and                                         recording the action taken.

        -        Handing the substance to the police for disposal. Where possible the police                 should be contacted to come and collect the substance. If this is not                         possible, then a member of staff should take the substance to the police                         station by the most direct route.

Under no circumstances should the substance be left in the possession of a member of staff/on the school premises.

• The school should record the specific action taken, on the Drug Related Incident Form.
• When a substance has been confirmed an illegal drug, it is the responsibility of         the Headteacher to notify parents/carers concerned and to initiate any further investigation/action, including notifying the Chair of Governors.

12.        Discipline and Sanctions

• The boundaries of acceptable behaviour should be clearly defined in the School Behaviour Policy.
• Discipline for drug related incidents should be dealt with individually and within the existing discipline framework of the school.  In applying sanctions, the school needs to balance the interests of the pupil(s) involved and the well being of the whole school.
• The DfES strongly recommended that permanent exclusion should not be the automatic response to a drug related issue.  Consideration must first be given to the circumstances, context and possible consequences on a case-by-case basis.

13.        Monitoring and Evaluation

• The effectiveness of this policy will be reviewed on a regular basis and the outcomes of the evaluation process should the governing bodies revision of the policy.

FLOWCHART OF RESPONSES - Appendix 3

All incidents and action taken should be recorded, on the Reporting Drug Related Incidents Form and a copy sent to Hilary Pollard, the Drug Education Consultant.

Appendix 1

Useful local contact numbers relating to drugs

Hilary Pollard – Drug Education Consultant

• Will support schools around developing drug policies.
• Will support schools in dealing with drug incidents.
• Will provide training for staff, parents and governors around drugs.
• Will support schools in planning and delivering the drug education programme.

778 0173        07813 092921

Substance Misuse and Referral Team (SMART)

• A service for young people who need advice, help or support around drugs misuse.

743 0167

Becky Whitburn – Healthy Schools Drug Worker

• Will support schools in planning and delivering drug education in primary and secondary schools.

873 6005

Alma Canas – Parent/Carer Support Worker

• Will offer advice and support to parent/carers around drugs.

743 0167