Childhood Asthma
Childhood Asthma
Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition for children. 1 in 11 children currently receive treatment for Asthma. It is an inflammatory condition that affects the airways and with appropriate management quality of life can be improved.
Having asthma has implications for a child’s schooling and learning. Appropriate asthma care is necessary for the child’s immediate safety, long-term well-being and optimal academic performance. Whilst some children may be independent with their treatment, other children will require intervention from school staff.
Asthma Checklist
• Every child with asthma should have an individual healthcare plan (IHP).
• Each school has an up to date medical/asthma conditions policy
• Children and young people should have appropriate supervision depending on their individual needs
• Children and young people should have immediate access to their inhalers ideally in the classroom/playground. It is the school’s responsibility to make sure staff know where the inhalers are kept
• In an asthma attack the inhaler should always be taken to the child
• Schools should attempt to have at least one emergency asthma inhaler kit available
• Early years settings and primary schools: Children and young people may require support to manage their asthma in school in line with the Children and Families Act 2014
• Secondary school: The student will be largely independent of central support but may require intermittent support
• The school will maintain a register of children and young people with asthma
• Staff will have access to appropriate training and annual updates on how to treat an asthma attack
School Sports and Asthma
As we celebrate the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paraolymic games, we once again highlight the importance of sporting activity, especially for children. In the past, it seemed impossible for athletes with an asthma diagnosis to compete at the top levels of sport. But that is not the case today!
Below are, some tips to support children exercising with asthma:
· Warm up before the activity
· Cool down afterwards (teaching staff may need to allow extra time for children with asthma to do this)
· Exercise in comfortable temperatures (avoid very cold or warm weather)
One of the primary goals of asthma management is to ensure that all children with a diagnosis of asthma are able to lead normal lives, this includes being outdoors, playing with friends and joining in with school sporting activities. There are now many elite athletes who have achieved excellence in their sport with an asthma diagnosis. According to The British Journal of Sports Medicine, asthma effects around eight percent of Olympic Athletes, proving that, with encouragement and support, school children of today are tomorrows Olympians!
Free Asthma resources are available at: