Policy for Drugs Education

Transcription

1 Lancashire County Council Education Department Great Arley School Policy for Drugs Education DATE REVIEWED REVIEWED BY NEXT REVIEW DATE Feb 14 C Oates Feb 16 April 16 C Oates April 2018 Great Arley School, Holly Road, Thornton, Lancashire, FY5 4HH TELEPHONE FAX WEBSITE 1

2 GREAT ARLEY SCHOOL DRUGS EDUCATION POLICY Introduction: Great Arley is a school for children aged 4 16 who have moderate learning difficulties, with an increasing number of pupils on the autistic spectrum and with more complex and severe learning needs. Great Arley School believes that the misuse of drugs would endanger not only our pupils but also would affect the wider community in which we live. It is our school s responsibility to ensure every child s health and safety while in our care and also to promote their personal and social wellbeing. Drug misuse can undermine this. This policy provides a focus for the school to consider how drugs education should be implemented and developed within the curriculum and outlines the roles, responsibilities and legal duties of key staff. It gives parents and the local community an opportunity for involvement in drug issues. This drugs policy forms an integral part of our exiting health education and personal and social education programmes. Rational: Great Arley recognises that young people in today s society are exposed to the risks associated with the drug culture that exists. For example, The School Health Education Unit Survey for West Lancashire (2008) reported that 20% of secondary pupils have been offered cannabis and 25% of secondary pupils have been offered other drugs. Amongst young adults aged across the UK the average weekly alcohol consumption is 12.5, with the North West consuming on average 13.1 units, the third highest region in terms of the level of average weekly consumption (Robinson and Harris 2011) cited in Emerging Drug. Trends in Lancashire: Phase 1 Report Therefore it is our responsibility to offer a balanced education to all pupils in relation to all forms of drug use. This will hopefully influence pupils in making personal decisions about drugs through equipping pupils with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to handle their lives effectively in the present and prepare them for adulthood. Drugs Education in Context: A life skill approach to drug prevention is essential and within the programme, pupils are taught about raising self esteem and assertiveness to prepare them for making informed decisions about drug use, the main focus being on knowledge, social skills, attitudes and values. 2

3 Purposes: To enable pupils to make healthy, informed choices by increasing knowledge, exploring attitudes and developing skills. To provide accurate, up-to-date information about substances. To increase understanding about the implications and possible consequences of the use and misuse of drugs. To broaden understanding about related health and social issues e.g. sex and sexuality, crime, H.I.V. and A.I.D.S. To encourage an understanding for those experiencing or likely to experience substance use. To seek to minimise the risks that users and potential users face. To enable young people to identify sources of appropriate personal support. The Range of Substances: Drugs- A Definition - A substance people take to change the way they feel, think or behave ( United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) This definition includes all illegal and legal drugs including: alcohol and tobacco over the counter medicines such as paracetamol prescribed drugs, such as antibiotics and tranquilisers volatile substances such as glues and aerosols illegal drugs such as cannabis, LSD and ecstasy Emergency Procedures: For the purposes of this policy, an emergency is considered to be either: A situation in which a pupil or staff is in danger; A sequence of events which require urgent attention; A message will be sent to each classroom to inform staff to follow agreed emergency procedures. This policy compliments the Child Protection Policy and the PSHE Policy. Confidentiality: Where a pupil discloses to a teacher that he or she is taking drugs, the teacher should make it clear that he or she can offer no guarantee of confidentiality. However the teacher can advise the pupil of other sources of confidential information or advice. Pupils should also be encouraged to talk to their parents. A record will be made of the disclosure and the Head Teacher Mr P Higham is to be informed. 3

4 The Place of Drugs Education within the Curriculum: Drugs Education should be seen as a continuous process which involves the development of skills and attitudes enabling pupils to make informed choices. Effective drug education should take account of the individual, the family, their peer groups and the wider community. Where possible, Great Arley promotes the partnership between the parent and child, when addressing drug issues. Drugs Education is delivered through well planned PSHE and Citizenship provision. The non statuary frameworks for PSHE and Citizenship are used at Key Stages 1 and 2, PSHE, at Key Stages 3 and 4 and the non-statutory citizenship programme of study at Key Stages 3 and 4. Drugs Education is also delivered through the statutory requirements within the National Curriculum Science Order for all phases. Citizenship at all key stages contributes to drug education at Great Arley by providing opportunities for pupils to: Understand rules and laws and how they relate to rights and responsibilities Consider different points of view Explore moral, social and cultural issues Discuss and debate topical issues The Aims and Objectives of the Drugs Education Programme: Great Arley s drugs education programme is grounded in the following aims and objectives: Aims: To promote positive attitudes towards personal health To develop self-discipline and self respect To build pupils self esteem To develop decision making skills which may delay or prevent the onset of experimentation To inform pupils of the effects of drug abuse and the risks involved. To help pupils to understand how they can influence their peers To develop knowledge and understanding of themselves and others as individuals. Objectives: Drug Education should enable pupils to develop a knowledge and understanding about drugs and drug issues, as well as the skills needed to cope with challenges they will encounter. Pupils at Great Arley will strive towards being able to: 4

5 Understand their own needs, abilities and interests. Understand the process of reasoning required to make informed choices. Explore their own attitudes towards drugs and drug issues. Develop coping strategies to deal with peer pressure. Understand what is meant by a drug and the definition of addiction Understand how some drugs affect the body. Be aware of the benefits of healthy lifestyles. Recognise potential drug exploitation and how to take avoiding action. Be aware of the current drug culture and the effect of advertising campaigns. The Delivery and Organisation of the Drugs Education Programme: Drugs Education is a whole staff issue. Great Arley School ensures that staff are regularly updated with changes in the curriculum and changes to the policy, which have an effect on the delivery of the curriculum. Where possible, staff receive inservice training on drug issues. Areas of Study Great Arley Drug Education Programme: The content of Drugs Education for classes 1-5 is firmly rooted in the programmes of Study for PSHE and Citizenship at Key Stage 1, 2, and 3. The aspects of the topics covered, will be appropriate to the needs of each pupil at Great Arley, within the context of moral considerations and the value of family life. Topics may be re-visited to ensure individual pupils have a clear understanding of all areas covered. Therefore the table overleaf merely gives a general overview of the content of scheme of works for each class. Class: Content of scheme of works: 1 Pupils learn about being safe with medicines and household substances They learn the basic skills for making healthy and safe choices and following safety rules Pupils learn to agree and follow rules for their group 2+3 Pupils learn about the effects and risks of alcohol, tobacco, volatile substances and illegal drugs. Pupils learn basic emergency first aid They learn basic skills to mange risky situations. They learn how to make informed choices and where individuals and families can get help and support. 4+5 Understanding drug and medicines The law and drugs Keeping ourselves safe Legal and illegal drugs that the abuse of alcohol and drugs affects health Understanding the effects of drugs Key Stage 4 pupils are taught Drugs Education as part of their accreditation for Entry Level Personal and Social Education, and New Horizons as a PSHE programme for Lower Ability groups. 5

6 Class Content 6 and 7 ( Year 10 / 11) Problems and health risks associated with alcohol abuse, smoking and illegal drugs. The law in relation to alcohol, cigarettes and illegal drugs, includes the work of Parliament, the Government and the courts in making and shaping the law. Recognising pressures and making safe healthy choices. Statutory and voluntary organisations that relate to drugs, alcohol and tobacco use. Assessment: Assessment of each topic of Drug Education at Great Arley is a planned part of teaching and learning which helps set clear expectations for standards and achievement. It is used as a tool to ensure progression and to motivate pupils who become partners in the process. It allows pupils to be clear about strengths and weaknesses in their learning and enables teachers to be clear about the achievements of their pupils and how their learning might be improved. Teachers at Great Arley will: actively involve pupils as partners in the assessment process discuss with pupils learning objectives and desired outcomes give opportunities for pupils to give and receive feedback on their progress give pupils opportunities to collect evidence of their achievements and help them identify what they should do next Summative assessments will be recorded half termly when a topic has been completed and also annually as part of PSHE and Citizenship summative assessments. KS4 progress is recorded through achievement of coursework outcomes. Outside Agencies: 6

7 Great Arley School uses outside agencies such as school nurses and school liaison police officers to help deliver the drug education programme. The designated PSHE subject co-ordinator C Oates ensures that the following criteria are met: The content and delivery of the programme has been jointly agreed. The programme and methods of delivery are consistent with the aims and objectives outlined in this policy The Head Teacher Mr P Higham has given approval for the use of the outside agency DBS disclosure will be required from any person delivering Drugs Education. Links with Parents, Carers, the Community and the Police: Great Arley believes that parents and carers play a vital role in the prevention of drug misuse. They are involved in the review process of the school s drug policy and schemes of work and are encouraged to play an active role in homework tasks. They are encourages to discuss drug issues with their child whenever possible. Great Arley endeavours to work closely with the local community to help reduce the number of drug related incidents. Great Arley has developed good working relationships with the local community support officers. This helps to ensure that if a drug related incident is reported, it will be dealt with in a professional and discrete manner, and in keeping with the best interests of the child concerned in mind. Monitoring and Evaluating: This Drugs Policy is reviewed bi-annually by all teaching staff to reflect changing circumstances and trends in drug use. The programmes of study for Drugs Education are continually reviewed and any changes deemed necessary are implemented. The induction of new staff will include an introduction to this policy. The policy is available to parents and carers through the school website and on request. Conclusion: We live in a drug-using society. The link between smoking tobacco and illnesses, particularly cancer is well established and understood by the general population. However, people still begin and continue to smoke. Alcohol is socially acceptable for recreational purposes within suggested healthy limits, but its abuse affects many people. Solvents and gases are misused by young people; while this behaviour is not in itself illegal it is not generally regarded as acceptable and has been responsible for many tragic deaths. Illegal drugs like cannabis, amphetamines, Ecstasy, L.S.D., cocaine, heroin and internet sourced new drugs are more easily available and more widely used by 7

8 younger people than ever before. It is vital therefore that a well-structured and up to date drug education programme is provided for our pupils which covers the nature of drugs and the issues surrounding their use, misuse, and abuse which will hopefully enable them to cope successfully with situations that may arise. Reviewed LE MAY 2002 Reviewed PC SEPTEMBER 2004 Reviewed AM SEPTEMBER 2006 Reviewed AM SEPTEMBER 2008 Reviewed AM OCTOBER 2010 Re-Written CO FEBRUARY 2012 Reviewed: CO FEBRUARY 2014 Reviewed: CO APRIL 2016 Date of next review: APRIL