St Peter at Gowts CofE Primary School, Lincoln, is the second school to be awarded the Asthma Friendly School accreditation in Lincolnshire. This is a recognition for their work in helping children with asthma stay well.
Supporting children with asthma in schools
St Peter at Gowts CofE Primary School in Lincoln has become the second school in Lincolnshire to receive the Asthma Friendly School accreditation. This award highlights the school’s dedication to supporting children with asthma and helping them stay well. Pupils can fully participate in school activities with confidence.
The initiative, led by NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board in partnership with the wider Lincolnshire NHS, Lincolnshire County Council, and the Children and Young People’s Respiratory Nurse at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, encourages schools to welcome children with asthma. Simple strategies are put in place to ensure they can participate fully in school life.
The prevalence of childhood asthma
Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition among children in the UK. The country has one of the highest prevalence rates, emergency admissions, and childhood asthma-related deaths in Europe. Due to these concerning statistics, initiatives such as the Asthma Friendly School accreditation are vital. Schools play a crucial role in managing asthma effectively, reducing absences, and improving health outcomes.
Meeting accreditation standards
To achieve the Asthma Friendly School status, schools must meet several key objectives:
- Adopt an asthma policy.
- Appoint a named asthma lead or champion among staff.
- Maintain an up-to-date asthma register.
- Provide baseline asthma training and annual updates for staff.
- Ensure staff can identify asthma attacks and respond appropriately.
- Guarantee easy access to reliever or rescue inhalers for children.
- Provide an emergency inhaler and spacer device where allowed or ensure children have a spare inhaler stored safely on-site.
By meeting these objectives, schools create a safer environment while raising awareness and preparedness among staff and pupils.
Commitment to a safe environment
Vicky Cook, SENDCO, DSL, and Early Years’ Lead at St Peter at Gowts, expressed pride in receiving the accreditation. She said:
“We are delighted to have been accredited as an Asthma Friendly School and are proud that it demonstrates our dedication in ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all our children.
“By adopting asthma-friendly policies and practices, we can better support children with asthma, helping them to stay healthy, active, and fully engaged in school life. This initiative reflects our commitment to our children’s well-being and a healthier school community.”
Supporting children with asthma
Vanessa Wort, Associate Chief Nurse at NHS Lincolnshire ICB and Co-chair of the Children and Young People Integrated Transformation Board, highlighted the importance of the initiative. She stated:
“Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease affecting around one in eleven children and young people in the UK. In Lincolnshire, approximately 10,000 children have an asthma diagnosis, with a further 3,000 suspected cases.
“The benefits of becoming an Asthma Friendly School include improving staff awareness and management of asthma while fostering a more inclusive environment. Furthermore, schools can provide better support to pupils with asthma, reducing the impact on their education.
“If your child is missing school due to asthma, contact your GP practice and ensure they receive an annual asthma review.”
Further Information
*NHSE (2022) National bundle of care for children and young people with asthma. NHS England » National bundle of care for children and young people with asthma
For further information on how to become a Lincolnshire Asthma Friendly School please visit Asthma Friendly Schools – Lincolnshire ICB