Asthma Friendly Schools

The Asthma Friendly Schools programme is aimed at improving asthma recognition and management within schools as, although asthma is common, outcomes within the UK are amongst the worst in Europe.

Achieving Asthma Friendly Schools status helps schools to support children in managing their asthma, prevent school absences, and reduce the chance of a child's death attributable to asthma.

In order to be certified as asthma friendly, each school will have:

• an asthma policy
• a register of pupils with asthma
• emergency inhaler/spacer kits
• a minimum of 85% of staff trained in asthma management

All schools taking part will be audited annually by the School Health Service.

Improving asthma management within schools in this way has many benefits, including:

• improved attendance
• improved academic achievement
• improved participation in physical activity
• reduced medical complications related to asthma.

Upcoming training

To express interest in joining the next Asthma Friendly Schools training, please fill in our expression of interest form.

Alternatively, contact your school nurse or email healthy.schools@haringey.gov.uk

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Accreditation process (updated 2023)

Step 1: Allocate an asthma lead and an asthma champion for your school. The asthma lead should be part of your school's senior leadership team.

Step 2: The asthma lead and asthma champion attend Asthma Friendly Schools training

Step 3: Training of all school staff – schools can choose either option A or option B

• A) Asthma lead and champion deliver asthma training to school staff (to at least 85% of staff)
• B) School staff complete online e-learning: Tier 1 – Supporting Children and Young People’s Health: Improving Asthma Care Together (external link). At least 85% of staff must complete the Tier 1 training and e-certificates must be obtained and stored.

Step 4: Complete the audit form (your school nurse can help with this). 

Step 5: Achieve accreditation and receive your certificate. Your school is now an Asthma Friendly School. 

If you would like to become an Asthma Friendly School, please contact your school nurse or healthy.schools@haringey.gov.uk.

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Resources

The resources below will support your school with becoming an Asthma Friendly School. These resources are to be used in conjunction with the training session and audit form.

For schools

• London Schools' Guide for the Care of Children and Young People with asthma (external link)
• Guidance on the use of emergency inhalers (PDF, 480KB)
• Emergency kit checklist (Word, 32KB)
• Spacer devices - asthma treatment guidelines (PDF, 71KB)
• Primary school assembly (PDF, 404KB)
• Secondary school assembly (PDF, 924KB)
• Generic GP letter (PDF, 1.3MB)
• Child Asthma Action Plan from Asthma + Lung UK (external link)

Asthma Action Plans 

• Primary School Asthma Action Plan (PDF, 158KB)
• Secondary School Asthma Action Plan (PDF, 151KB)
• TIME asthma attack poster (PDF, 269KB)

For parents and carers

• Using a spacer device with your child - for parents and carers (PDF, 71KB)
• Parent information letter - Asthma Friendly Schools (PDF, 96KB)
• Princess Asma information booklet (PDF, 4.5MB)
• Asthmanauts (PDF, 1.6MB)
• Receive free air quality text alerts with airTEXT (external link)

Resource videos

How to help a child use a spacer without a mask

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