Asthma is a common long-term medical condition in children, that can prove fatal without appropriate management.
Asthma Friendly Schools
Suffolk County Council has started implementing the Asthma Friendly Schools initiative since Autumn 2022, 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 help 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
- Improved attendance and attainment
Becoming a Suffolk Asthma Friendly School
In order to become an Asthma Friendly School, schools must complete a self-audit form indicating that they have met several criteria. In the first year of the initiative, we found that many schools were struggling to meet criteria that were beyond their direct control. As such we have developed a tiered system which allows for schools to be recognised for their commitment and encourage progress towards meeting the criteria in full.
For guidance on how to meet these criteria, please refer to the Suffolk Asthma Policy Guide, which will also provide a framework for schools to develop their own school Asthma Policy.
Completing the Suffolk Asthma Friendly Schools Audit
The self-audit form can be completed online, and upon submission you should receive an email containing a Suffolk Asthma Friendly School Certificate according to the tier of criteria (Bronze/Silver/Gold status) your school has achieved.
You may submit the audit any number of times each year. Therefore, if your school has made any further improvements to reach the next tier (Bronze/Silver/Gold), you are encouraged to perform a new submission. In some months where many schools have submitted forms, you may need to wait for your certificate to be sent to you.
Suffolk Asthma Friendly Schools Standard (office.com)
Support
If you encounter any problems or require any clarification, please look through some of the resources we have compiled in the section below. If this does not help you to resolve your issue, please contact one of our team
- Schools Engagement Coordinator, Jane Stannard ([email protected]).
- Public Health Consultant, Mashbileg Maidrag ([email protected])
Useful resources and FAQs
London Asthma Friendly Schools Guide
Beat Asthma website – contains videos, quizzes and written information for young people and their families; also contains useful resources for schools.
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
Digital Health Passport – digital health passport app with access to asthma treatment plan and additional resources such as asthma inhaler technique, peak flow record, pollen information. Available on Google Play Store and Apple Store.
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’
Poster – ‘Prevent; use every day’