The EYFS lets childminders give medicines, prescribed and non-prescribed, as long as a parent has given written permission for that particular medicine. Your medicines policy explains how you do it safely, and it's the policy Ofsted most often checks against your records.
What the policy should cover
- Permission. Written permission from a parent for each medicine, before the first dose.
- Prescribed medicines. Only given if prescribed for that child, in the original container with the pharmacy label.
- Aspirin. Not given unless a doctor has prescribed it.
- Records. Each dose written down with the date, time and amount, and the parent told the same day.
- Storage. Out of children's reach, and in the fridge if the label says so.
- Training. Training before giving anything that needs medical or technical knowledge, such as an adrenaline auto-injector or inhaler with a spacer, if you haven't already had it.
A permission form that covers the medicine's name, dose, times, dates and the last dose given at home saves you chasing the details. The family form includes a medicine permission form for parents to fill in.
How it looks in your contract
From a GoChildmind contract
Medicines. I can give prescribed and non-prescribed medicines. I will only give a medicine when you have given written permission for that particular medicine. Prescribed medicine must be prescribed for your child. I will record each dose and tell you the same day. I will not give medicine containing aspirin unless a doctor has prescribed it.
Put your own details in, freeRead the full sample contract
If you'd rather not give non-prescribed medicines, GoChildmind lets you choose that and changes the wording to match.
Questions people ask
Can a childminder give Calpol? Yes, if the parent has given written permission for it, you record each dose and you tell the parent the same day.
Do I need a new form for every medicine? Yes. Permission is for a particular medicine, so each new one needs its own.