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Health and Medical Care
One of our main aims at Paible, is to promote health through the curriculum and other initiatives.
The emphasis is on Healthy and Safe Living and this outcome will be addressed through the study of three themes
- looking after oneself
- relationships
- health and safety in the environment
Our Health Education programme also includes visits or talks from outside agencies e.g.
Sept 2009
 A hard-hitting drama about the dangers of smoking left pupils and staff from Paible and Carinish with plenty to think about on Wed 9 Sept 2009. The 45 minute play by Pyramid Theatre Company was performed with a minimum of props (5 plastic school chairs!) but this certainly did not detract from the impact of the message.
The plot centred on Stacey, a typical headstrong, opinionated teenager who had fallen into a regular smoking habit and saw no reason to stop. She and her fellow ‘Nic Buzz’ addict Lisa, aka ‘Stacey and Hutch’, revelled in the rebellious, mature image which they felt smoking gave them. Chelle, Stacey’s down-trodden mum, felt powerless to intervene, given her own 30 year addiction to cigarettes.
When new girl Angie appeared at the school, Stacey was quickly impressed by her independent, fun-loving personality and quickly became friendly with her, much to the dismay of Lisa. Persuaded by her powerful arguments about the dangers of smoking, Stacey decided to give up, especially when told that quitting her 4 a day habit could save her enough money over a three year period to buy two return plane tickets to Australia.
Stacey was successful in beating her nicotine addiction, although Lisa declined to follow her example as she felt her life to be ‘too stressful’ as it was. This excuse looked quite pathetic when, in the most poignant scene in the play, Angie told of her devastation at losing her 33 year old mother to cancer. This also explained her subsequent mission to persuade as many people as possible to stay away from cigarettes.
Chelle tried to support Stacey by giving up with her but succumbed to her cravings again after a couple of months. She ended the play pledging to try again, this time with the help of a support group, deftly illustrating the strength of the grip which nicotine addiction can have on seasoned smokers.
The quality of the acting from this group far surpassed what might be expected in a school hall on a Wednesday morning, and the dialogue and interaction between the teenagers and also between Stacey and her mum was realistic and convincing. At no point did the audience feel patronised or lectured, a common pitfall with this type of performance.
The Q and A session which followed was very successful, with pupils getting the chance to speak to the actors in role as to their choices and motivation.
 North Uist GP Dr Wheeler and Smoking Cessation Officer Mairead Macdonald brought the proceedings to a close with some salutory reminders of the damage which smoking can wreak on health.
This was an excellent way of getting a very important message across to pupils in an entertaining and enjoyable way – the rest is up to them!
Dentist, Health Visitor, Police etc.
Although there is no resident school nurse, two members of Staff have had First Aid training. The school has a Medical Room with toilet and shower, and First Aid boxes are located throughout the school. Pupils who are asthmatic are asked to make sure that an extra inhaler is kept in the teacher’s room. Advice Sheets on Asthma and Epilepsy are posted in all teaching areas.
We are not permitted to administer any form of medication without the written consent of the parent/guardian. Consent forms are available from the School Office. In the interests of health and safety any medication brought into the school must be left in the school office.
- New Entrants (P1) Children are offered a Medical Examination and Booster Immunisation (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio and MMR) by their GP prior to school entry. In Primary 1 vision and hearing screening is carried out by the Public Health Nurse (Schools), Isabel MacInnes. Parents can attend to discuss their child’s development.
- Hearing & Vision Further vision, colour vision and growth recordings are done at age 7 years and eleven years. Hearing screening is repeated if necessary.
- Heaf Test (P6) This skin test is carried out a week or two
before the BCG vaccine is offered.
The School Health Service works closely with the Educational Psychologist.. The Health Visitor, Alison McVie and the Public Health Nurse (Schools), Isabel MacInnes are always available to discuss matters relating to your child’s health.
The Dental Hygienist, Mrs Heather Moser visits the school on request.
It is very important that parents inform the school of any special provision required for their child. e.g. dietary requirements or medication.
If a pupil becomes ill or is injured, every effort will be made to contact parents. When necessary, the local doctor or nurse will be called in or
arrangements may be made for the pupil to be transferred to hospital. It is of vital importance that accurate emergency contact information is available.
The Education Act 1980 states that parents have a duty to ensure that their child attends school regularly.
Nothing is more important to a child’s success at school than that he or she attend regularly and on time.
A pupil register is taken every morning and it is the responsibility of the school to make sure that any absences are authorised by letter or telephone.
Any planned absences, either for family holidays or other reasons during term time should be requested by letter to the Head Teacher. (See Appendix 8)
Parents will be informed by letter if their child has an unsatisfactory attendance record. If the high absence rate continues the school must inform the Education Department.
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