School support staff feel pressured into providing essential medical care for pupils, despite a lack of training, pay and support, warns a report released by UNISON today (Friday).
Around two in five (42%) school employees say they have no option but to give injections and administer prescribed medication to pupils alongside their other duties.
The survey of more than 4,000 school workers found just four in 10 (39%) are confident refusing tasks they are uncomfortable with. These could include administering oxygen, attaching feeding tubes and changing colostomy bags.
UNISON says the findings raise serious concerns about specialist medical care being left to school staff with little training and who feel they’ve no option but to say yes.
Fewer than half (42%) of survey respondents say their training has been signed off by a healthcare professional.
Many respondents report school leaders rely on terms such as ‘other duties’ or ‘first aid responsibilities’ in job descriptions to justify staff carrying out serious medical procedures.
But guidance from the Department for Education is clear “first aid at work does not include giving tablets or medicine”.
Over three-fifths (62%) say they fear something going wrong, with more than half (53%) worried they would not be supported by their managers if that happened.
UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “Administering essential medical care in schools should be the responsibility of trained health professionals, not low-paid support staff who feel pressured to do it because there’s no one else.
“Teaching assistants, administrators and catering staff, who’re already picking up the slack elsewhere in schools, shouldn’t be forced to act as nurses, physios and occupational therapists.
“Clinical support for children with long-term conditions is an NHS responsibility and should be delivered by health professionals.
“Support workers worry that a simple mistake as they administer oxygen or deliver controlled drugs could have disastrous consequences and fear their schools wouldn’t support them.
“All children and young people should be able to enjoy school to the full, and getting the right care delivered by the right people is key to that.”
Notes to editors:
– The full report can be found here.
– UNISON surveyed 4,026 school support staff in England from 1 April to 2 May 2025.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Dan Ashley M: 07789 518992 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
The article Low paid support staff pressured into providing essential medical care at school, says report first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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