The clinic in school is located on the ground floor near the KG classrooms. The clinic is open between 7.45 am and 4pm. We have two fully qualified and licensed nurses on site. Students can come to the clinic to see the nurses regarding any sickness, injury or other health related problem but they do need to inform their teacher before they attend. Lower Junior and KG students are brought along by their teaching assistant. Parents are informed by email of any medication given in school. If students need to go home due to illness the nurse will contact the parents by phone and we will keep the student in the clinic where we can observe them until you arrive. The nurses also carry out all the childhood immunisations as per the Omani schedule in Grade 1 and 6 and medical checks in Grade 1,4 and 7 in accordance with the Ministry of Health guidelines. Parents will be informed by email or letter requesting consent before any immunisations or medicals are carried out. We keep up to date records of all immunisations and medical checks in the clinic.

School Nurse Role

The Clinic is open during all school hours and a Registered Nurse is always on duty. The School Nurse’s responsibilities include:

  • Providing First Aid for any incidents occurring on the school campus
  • Assessing student health status and providing health checks for grade 1 and 7 students
  • Maintaining up to date student health records
  • Providing individual care plans for students with health conditions
  • Facilitating and keeping records of all childhood immunisations
  • Administration of all medication in school under the Medications Policy
  • Monitoring the Health and Safety for students, staff and visitors within the school
  • Facilitating health education and health promoting activities for students.
  • Please ensure the School Registrar has details of your Medical Insurance.

Sick Leave From School

If your child is ill you should keep them at home, both for individual recovery and protection of other children and staff at school.

If a child has a fever over 37.5 C they must not be in school.

Any child who has had a fever must not return to school until 24 hours has elapsed with no fever and no medication.

Please do not send your child to school after giving medication to treat a fever! The child will be sent home.

Likewise, in cases of vomiting or diarrhoea due to gastric virus or food poisoning, students must not return to school for 48 hours after the last episode.

Please always inform School Nurse if your child is home on sick leave!

All parents of students enrolling at AGS are required to complete the Student Health Record and provide documented proof of immunisations. The parents’ or legal guardians’ signature is required at registration in order to provide consent for the school to seek medical assistance in the case of an emergency.

Infectious And Contagious Illness

We follow Department of Health guidelines on exclusion for infectious or contagious illness, and we are always happy to advise you. Please see our exclusion policy for some common diseases/ailments:

  • Chickenpox – about 7 days from onset of rash and all spots scabbed over.
  • Mumps - Until swelling has subsided.
  • German Measles – 4 days from onset of rash.
  • Whooping Cough – 21 days from onset of the cough.
  • Measles – 7 days from onset of rash.
  • Hand Foot and Mouth Disease – If the child is unwell.
  • Impetigo – must not attend till sores have healed - seek medical treatment.
  • Scabies- must not attend until medical treatment complete and condition is better.
  • Threadworms – no need for exclusion, but must be treated promptly.
  • Conjunctivitis (“red eye”) – keep off school and seek medical advice

Head Lice - Preventing head lice in schools requires constant vigilance and attention. Please check your child weekly using the conditioner and combing method of lice detection and notify the Teacher if your child develops head lice so that the necessary precautions can be taken. When head lice are detected at school, the Nurse will contact the child’s parents so that they can collect them. The School Nurse will provide the parents with a letter explaining how to eradicate the head lice and the procedure for readmission to class. HEDRIN is the treatment currently proved to be most effective and least unpleasant for the user and should be used on the day of detection and before returning to school

Medication In School

If students need to take prescribed medicine while in school, parents must provide the medicine together with written details as follows: Student’s name and class, reason for medication, dosage, route, time, and parent's signature. For Health and Safety reasons, all medication must be kept in the Nurse’s Clinic and students must not carry any medication on their person, in accordance with UK/Oman school law.

Students should bring their medicine to the Nurse’s Clinic upon arrival at school. A note should also be sent to inform the Teacher that the child requires medication from the School Nurse. Students are, however, permitted to carry an asthma inhaler or Epi-pen, which must be reported to the Nurse’s Clinic. Medication such as simple analgesia, antihistamines and sickness remedies are given in school when deemed necessary by the Nurse unless parents have signed an order not to administer any medication for their child, or if student refuses. Parents of students in Year 6 and below will be contacted and informed regarding the administration of medication where possible.

Injuries In School

The School Nurses deal with approximately 50 children each day and cannot inform parents of these minor injuries. For more serious accidents that occur on campus, parents will be telephoned by the Nurse.

Minor Injuries and Illnesses in School

  • If able, students should report to their classroom first and inform the Teacher. The student should then report to the Nurse’s Clinic.
  • The School Nurse will assess the student’s condition.
  • Non-prescription medication may be given for fever, pain, cold, cough or allergy.
  • Student is allowed to rest for one class period, and is observed.
  • Student either returns to class or the School Nurse will contact the parent to pick up the child.
  • The incident is recorded in the medical records.
  • All students must wait in the Nurse’s Clinic for collection by parent/driver. Parents are requested to promptly pick up sick students from the Nurse’s Clinic.

Moderate/Severe Injuries in School

  • Student attends or is transported to Nurse’s Clinic.
  • Student’s condition is assessed and emergency care provided.
  • Parents will be contacted.
  • School Nurse will determine if more advanced care is needed.
  • Student will be taken to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital if emergency treatment is required. (Preferably taken by parent, or arrangement to meet parent at SQUH).

Advance medical care is required when:

  • Injury involves severe bleeding
  • Injury involves head and/or spine
  • Injury has impaired breathing
  • Moderate musculoskeletal injuries are suspected

It is school policy and practice to call a parent immediately if a child requires urgent medical assistance. In cases where contact is not possible for the parent or emergency contact to attend, AGS will transport the student to a local hospital.

The cost of any medical consultation or treatment is the responsibility of the parents, although any medicament or treatment given by the School Nurse is free of charge.

Broken Limbs – Children can return once plaster is set & on medical advice. Please inform School Nurse of any casts or treatment.

Stitches – Children can return after authorisation of School Nurse. Sutures can be removed by the School Nurse and follow-up dressings can be arranged at school for all wounds.

Immunisations

The School Nurse carries out routine vaccination of pupils in Grades 1, 6 and 12 as per the Immunisation Schedule of Oman

Grade 1 – DT and OPV booster (Diphtheria Tetanus & Oral Polio vaccine)

Grade 6 – Td booster (Tetanus and Diphtheria)

Grade 11 – Td and OPV booster

 

School Medical Checks

Routine medical checks will be carried out by the school nurses in accordance with Omani guidelines.

 

Grade 1: Distance Vision/Colour Vision/Hearing/Height & Weight/BMI & Doctor’s medical examination/General health check

Grade 4: Hearing Test/ Height & Weight/BMI/General health check

Grade 7: Distance Vision/Colour Vision/Hearing/Height & Weight/BMI/Blood Pressure Scoliosis check/General health check

Grade 10: Distance Vision/Colour Vision/Height & Weight/BMI/Scoliosis check/General health check