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Rise Park Junior School Drug Education Policy Rationale Rise Park Junior School recognizes the harm that all drugs can cause, be they illegal (cocaine, cannabis, heroin, etc.) or legal (alcohol, cigarettes and solvents) or medicines. We aim through this policy to provide clear and consistent procedures, which promote safety and good management. Drug Education will take place as part of PSHE to alert children to the possible dangers of drugs and how to cope with them. It will assist them in learning to make simple choices and to create an awareness of a drug using society. Definition A drug is any substance that people take to change the way they feel, think or behave. (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). This refers to all illegal drugs, over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Aims and objectives • To ensure the health and safety of the school community and meet the pastoral needs of the pupils. • To enable pupils to explore their own and other peoples’ attitudes towards drugs, drug use and drug users. • To provide opportunities for pupils to develop their knowledge, skills, attitudes and understanding about drugs. • To develop pupils’ personal and social skills to enable them to make informed decisions and keep themselves safe and healthy. • To understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, relating this to their own and others’ actions. • To explore moral, social and cultural issues. • To discuss and debate topical issues and consider different points of view. • To raise students’ self-esteem and confidence, especially in their relationships with others Drug education Curriculum Planning The Government states that certain aspects of drug education are a statutory requirement as part of the National Curriculum Science Order. It states that pupils should be taught that tobacco, alcohol, volatile substances and illegal drugs can have harmful effects. Pupils should learn about the effects and risks of alcohol, tobacco, volatile substances and illegal drugs and the basic skills to manage risky situations. The school aims to provide a programme of drug education in line with the PSHE and Science National Curriculum Frameworks. This should also be mapped against other curriculum areas of reinforcement. PSHE provides and effective context for Drug Education because if focuses on developing skills and exploring attitudes as well as learning about healthy and safe lifestyles. At Key Stage 2 all children should know: • All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicines. • There are over-the-counter prescribed legal and illegal substances and have some understanding of their effects. • How to make informed choices about their health and exercise some basic techniques for resisting pressure from friends and others. • The important and beneficial part which drugs have played in society. • That they should take more responsibility for their own actions. • Basic skills to manage risky situations. Where Drug Education fits in Body and Health: • How the body works and how to take care of it? • What goes into my body and where do things go once inside my body? • Personal hygiene • What is harmful • How to deal with persuasion – smoking and alcohol • Food additives, coffee, caffeine, solvents • Drugs at home in the cupboard – what is safe and unsafe • Smoking and Alcohol – choices/behaviour/damage/reaction • Other drugs – being offered, legal, illegal Content of Drug Education programme The Drug Education programme should: • Provide information which is easy to understand, relevant an appropriate to the age and maturity of the pupils • Include the development of communication and social skills • Encourage the exploration and clarification of values and attitudes • Identify risks • Help children to cope with peer influences • Help children to value themselves as people Delivery of Drug Education Drug Education will form part of PSHE and Science, focusing upon a cross-curricular approach. This will be: • As ‘Circle Time’ • Planned aspects of PSHE • Planned aspects of Science • Input from the Police Liaison Officers • Input from Health Promotion Services. Roles and Responsibilities The School Governors will: • Ensure that there is drug education programme • Oversee the drug education programme The Head teacher: • Is the designated senior member of staff to be responsible for any drug issues and the deputy head will deputise in her absence. • Will oversee the planning and co-ordination of the Drug Education Programme • Will take responsibility for the management of any drug related incidents The PSHE and Citizenship co-ordinator will: • Identify staff training needs and seek provision • Be responsible with the support of staff for reviewing and updating resources • Monitor and assess the school’s drug education policy and practice for effectiveness All staff should: • Be aware of the drug education policy and their role in implementing it Overall co-ordination of incidents: The Senior Manager will initially co-ordinate action, including consultation with the governors, parents and where appropriate, with outside agencies. The Senior Manager will lead on discussions held with pupils and the recording of the incidents. During this process, another member of staff should be present to support the senior manager and to avoid any allegations arising in future. Where possible any records should be shared with the pupil and jointly signed with them. Incidents will be dealt with in line with the flow chart attached (Appendix 1). A record will be kept of any drug related incident, using the incident record form (Appendix 2). Smoking statement In line with increasing evidence of the adverse health effects of second-hand smoke, the school agrees that: The smoking of tobacco by employees, governors and other users and visitors to the school will not be permitted. Therefore, smoking is not allowed on the school site. Equal opportunities All children will have equal access to the Drug Education programme linked to PSHE, regardless of age, gender, race or ability. This policy will reviewed annually Reviewed July 2006
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