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 Developing
a Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Policy for Schools
Not just a piece of paper....
Policy follows practice follows policy - as the saying goes. All
schools should have a current drug, alcohol and tobacco policy in
line with the DfES guidance. It should guide the work staff do and
protect the members of the school community. It should be developed
with the participation of pupils, parents, staff and governors.
It should contain, among other things, sections on the school's
stance on drugs, how they will respond to incidents, support for
pupils, the content and delivery of drug education, and links to
other policies such as medicines and PSHE.
A drug policy is a working document that should guide the school
and clarify all aspects of drug issues. |
| Suggested action plan to develop a policy
for drugs |
- Identify your starting point:
Using the audit provided
under 'useful downloads', audit your current policy, if you have
one, to see how closely it meets the criteria for good practice.
If you do not wish to use an existing policy or you do not have
one, you may wish to use an exemplar policy, which is based on
the suggested guidance - this alone will not meet with standards
for good practice - it will need to be implemented through participation.
- Get appropriate support - contact
Nottingham Healthy Schools Programme
The Education Department and the Healthy Schools Programme
in Nottingham have a Schools Drug Policy and Education Advisor
and a range of practical and financial support packages to support
you in developing drug policy and programme.
- Form a task group:
You will need to have the whole school on board, including staff,
pupils, governors, some parents and non-teaching staff. Forming
a task group, including representatives from all these groups,
is the easiest way to make sure that everyone's views are
heard (and to make sure you don't end up doing all the work
as coordinator). Consultation is a major part of 'whole
school' working.
- Consultation / participation
The Healthy Schools Programme team are able to support in organising
consultation with pupils and parents, supplying ideas and sharing
what has worked well in other schools. Consultation can take many
forms but the important thing is that pupils and parents both
have the opportunity to have their views on policy and the aims
of drug education included in the process. It will enable them
to feel ownership of the policy.
- You can use existing parents' evening or events.
- Have a drug information evening - ask
us who can help.
- Ask the school council to discuss it.
- Use key stage, class or year focus groups.
- Use lesson activities or tutor time activities.
- Ask the Healthy
Schools Programme team for help.
You may wish to use the draft policy (see below) as the basis
of the consultation as a starting point to show staff, pupils
and parents. You may wish to use a more open process - it's up
to you.
- Draft your drugs policy:
We have created an proforma policy template as a starting point:
it takes in all aspects of good practice locally and nationally
and works as a guide and a focus for this part of the process.
You will need to adapt the wording of the policy to reflect the
consultation process with pupils, staff and parents.
We strongly recommend that you make use of one of our drug policy
support packages to help you do this. It usually takes a half-day
and we are always happy to attend as part of the task group.
Alternatively you can attend one of our immensely successful 'policy
and programme workdays' where all materials and support
are provided by the School Drug Advisor to complete the policy
and action plan for implementation - we will even pay your supply
cover to do this and provide some free resources.
Ask us about workdays
If you haven't already done it, you will now need to widen the
consultation to include parents, pupils and all staff. You may
wish to select key passages from the draft policy for particular
groups e.g. Items about incidents, tobacco and alcohol use and
the administration and storage of medicines in school may be more
relevant to parents than the rest of the policy.
It may be useful to create a 'pupil/parent friendly' version of
your policy - maybe get the school council to do this.
- Implementation:
Now you have identified key tasks and issues you can write an
action plan, set timelines and decide who will be responsible.
This action plan will form the basis of the implementation of
your policy and the work to be done to meet the criteria and gain
accreditation. It may evolve as you progress and actions may be
added.
Remember - The coordinator's role is central to the process but
you cannot do it alone - make sure that your task group/ colleagues
are clear about how they will contribute to the process. Good
support and recognition of the coordinator role by the senior
management team of the school is esential to success.
The Healthy Schools Programme can cover supply costs up to two
days for staff to take appropriate time to complete tasks set
out in the action plan.
Contact
us for more information
Note about evidence:
If you intend to take the The Healthy School Programme Accreditation
route, you will be required to work alongside the Healthy Schools
Programme Team so that evidence and progress can be accredited
by an advisor.
Please note that The Healthy School Standard for PSHE/Drugs is
recognised by Ofsted as a marker of good practice and evidence
for the school's SEF.
- Review
We suggest you review your policy every two years to
ensure currency.
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