National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare for children up to the age of 12 years: statutory guidance - Audience and overview

Child’s voice: If I need medicine, it is given to me safely and only when my family say it’s okay.

Well-being outcome: Children’s health is safeguarded by children receiving the medication they need, when they need them, in line with the setting’s medication policies and procedures. 

The registered person is responsible for ensuring that:

11.1 These standards are read in conjunction with standard 10: Healthcare and the Public Health Wales guidance for infection prevention and control.

11.2 There is a clear medication policy, understood and implemented by all staff, about the storage and administration of any (prescribed or non-prescribed) medication. The policy conforms to the terms of the registered person’s insurance cover. 

11.3 The medication policy is shared with parents and sets out the procedures in place to support the safe administration of prescribed and non-prescribed medication. The policy includes the procedure for dealing with medical emergencies and when children become unwell at the setting.

11.4 The parent gives prior written permission before any (prescribed/non-prescribed) medication is given.

11.5 If medication is administered to a child, this is with an understanding of the possible side effects of the medication. If medication is self-administered by the child, this is in line with written guidance from the parent and with an understanding of the possible side effects of this medication. Children must be supervised when self-administering medication. 

11.6 Information is gained to establish from the person delivering the child to the childcare setting, exactly when medication was last administered.

11.7 Prescription medicines are not administered unless a doctor or other healthcare professional has prescribed them for that child. 

11.8 If the administration of prescription medicines requires technical or clinical knowledge, then the person administering the medicine is appropriately trained to do so. Training is specific to the individual child concerned. 

11.9 Any medicine received into, obtained and administered by the setting is not out of date.

11.10 All medicines are stored in their original containers. Prescribed medication is clearly labelled with the child’s name.

11.11 All medicines are stored securely in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and are inaccessible to children

11.12 Written records are kept of all medicines administered to children and parents sign the record book to acknowledge the entry.

11.13 If you obtain, store and administer liquid paracetamol when a child becomes unwell at your setting follow the guidance in Annex D - Guidance for administering liquid paracetamol when children become unwell at the setting.

To assist providers, the principal regulatory requirements underpinning this standard are outlined below, followed by relevant guidance. Providers should note that neither list is exhaustive, and that providers must have regard to all standards relevant to their service and the circumstances concerned.

Regulation 9 - Registered person: general requirements

Regulation 20 – Safeguarding and promotion of welfare

Regulation 24 – Health needs of children

Regulation 25 – Hazards and safety

Regulation 26 – Use and storage of medicines 

Regulation 30 – Keeping of records and Schedule 3 – Records to be maintained

Public Health Wales - Guidance for childcare, preschool and educational settings

Information about fever in children is available via the NHS 111 Wales website - NHS 111 Wales - Health A-Z : Fever in children

Paracetamol for children: medicine for pain and high temperature - NHS