Medication consent & record

What you need to know

The plain-English guidance that comes with this document.

• No medicine without prior written consent — ever. The EYFS is clear: you can only give a child medicine (prescription or non-prescription) with the parent's or carer's prior written permission, and you must keep a record and tell the parent. Verbal "it's fine, give her some Calpol" is not enough — get it in writing first.
• Prescription medicine: prescribed for that child, and follow the label. Only give prescribed medicine that's been prescribed for that child, exactly as the label/prescriber says. Check the name, the dose and the expiry every time.
• Be cautious with non-prescription medicine. Good practice is to give it only where there's a genuine health reason, and ideally where it's been given at home before without a reaction — so you're not the first to try it. Never give aspirin to a child unless prescribed.
• Two pairs of eyes on the dose. Many settings have a second person check the child, the medicine, the dose and the time before it's given. It's a simple, powerful error-check — build it in.
• Store it safely, and hand it back. Keep medicines out of children's reach (and refrigerated if needed), check expiry dates, and return unused medicine to the parent rather than keeping it.
• Allergies and emergency meds need a plan. For a child with a serious allergy, asthma or epilepsy, you need a proper care plan and trained staff — not just this form. Link it to the registration record and any health-care plan.
• Professionally structured starting point — adapt and sign off. A manager tailors this to your setting and the current EYFS and signs it; it's not "compliant out of the box". England-led — check your nation's framework.