Asthma is a common long-term medical condition in children, that can prove fatal without appropriate management.

Asthma Friendly Schools

Suffolk County Council are planning to implement the Asthma Friendly Schools initiative, to help meet the national standards specified in the National Bundle of Care for Children and Young People with Asthma. The aim is to help schools manage an asthma exacerbation and helps to prevent avoidable harm to children with asthma.

Benefits to becoming an Asthma Friendly School include:

• Improved asthma awareness and management in the school.
• Develop a more inclusive and supportive school environment for students with asthma.
• Be recognised for implementing best practice within schools.

Becoming a Suffolk Asthma Friendly School

The requirements to meet to become an “Asthma Friendly School” can be found in the Suffolk Asthma Friendly School Guidance. The guidance has links to further information and templates to meet each of the steps in the Suffolk Asthma Friendly Schools Audit mentioned below. It is a requirement to complete the audit to become a Suffolk Asthma Friendly School

Completing the Suffolk Asthma Friendly Schools Audit

Each school is encouraged to complete a self-audit using the Suffolk Asthma Friendly Schools Audit form. Once the school has met all the standards, please send the completed form to Jane Stannard, Schools Engagement Coordinator via [email protected].

Once Asthma Friendly School status has been gained, it needs to be audited annually so that it can be maintained. 

Asthma Champion

Schools are recommended to have an ‘Asthma Champion’ who is a named individual responsible for being the lead for asthma in the school. They will act as the designated contact for asthma related issues and will help to ensure that the school meets the Asthma Friendly Schools standard.

Please contact Jane Stannard, Schools Engagement Coordinator via  [email protected] if you would like more information.

If you have any questions and need clarification on any of the above, please contact:  [email protected].

See also the Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions page.

Useful resources for asthma management as follows:

Beat Asthma website – contains videos, quizzes and written information for young people and their families; also contains useful resources for schools.

Take Asthma Seriously – a Suffolk County Council campaign

Emergency asthma inhalers for use in schools – guidance from the Department of Education – Please note: that schools can buy inhalers and spacers from a pharmacy, without a prescription as long as they are for emergency use only.

Asthma UK – asthma plan for a child

Asthma UK – asthma plan for an older child

Asthma UK – school asthma card

MySpira app – free augmented reality asthma training game for children

Poster – Let’s Talk About Asthma

Poster – Asthma Emergency

Poster – Do you know how to use your inhaler correctly?

Poster – ‘Everyone with asthma should have an asthma management plan’

Poseter – ‘Prevent; use every day’