This presentation describes the impact of the original Asthma Friendly Schools (AFS) pilot, conducted in Ealing and supported by Asthma + Lung UK. Ealing children’s asthma project worked with 62 schools and 2000 children and their families, teaching them about asthma and how to manage it correctly. The project reduced emergency department admissions by 40% and demonstrated £90k savings.

This slide presentation (link to this doc)

, based on the example of Islington, can be used to engage with schools about the AFS programme.

North West London ICB and local authority public health leads have developed a set of principles to support discussions around roles, responsibilities and decision making so pupils with medical conditions can be effectively supported in school environments.

Hillingdon Hospitals Trust have developed a form for schools, which schools complete and submit on a monthly basis to provide information about the asthmatic children and young people in their care. It is fully embedded in the AFS initiative, giving the hospital CYP asthma team and school nursing team the opportunity to monitor and measure school absence and inhaler use and follow up with CYP and families where necessary.

This asthma/wheeze checklist for schools, developed by Tower Hamlets School Health Service, can be used by school nurses undertaking asthma reviews in school.

Havering Public Health have undertaken an audit on the London asthma standards for schools (which closely mirror the National Bundle of Care for CYP Asthma and are reflected in the Asthma Friendly Schools Guide). These are their findings.

AFS schools have Asthma Champions, who take responsibility for promoting good asthma care and ensuring adherence to policies. An example description of the role of the Asthma Champion, based on work in Croydon, can be found here.