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Asthma Friendly Schools initiative launched across York
23 May 2025
The Trust is calling on schools across the City of York to join a new initiative named ‘Asthma Friendly Schools’.
This exciting new programme aims to support local schools in becoming 'Asthma Friendly', with the goal of improving the care of pupils with asthma and raising awareness of this common long-term medical condition through training, resources, and support.
Alex Oliver, Asthma Friendly School Nurse at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explained: “Asthma is the most common condition affecting children and young people in the UK. Sadly, children and young people die from asthma each year and most deaths are preventable. While asthma cannot be cured, appropriate management can significantly improve quality of life.
“Having asthma can impact a child’s schooling and learning, so it’s essential to begin the conversation about asthma care within school settings. We know that schools are where children are most likely to experience an asthma flare-up.”
Alex continued: “We’re encouraging all local schools to become an ‘Asthma Friendly School’. The benefits of improving asthma awareness and management include reduced absences for pupils with asthma, creating an inclusive environment for all those with the condition, and ultimately supporting the health, safety, and wellbeing of students and staff.”
To achieve the ‘Asthma Friendly’ accreditation, schools will need to meet several key objectives, including:
- Training all staff in asthma awareness, with an asthma champion identified
- Having an asthma policy and maintaining an asthma register
- Ensuring consistent storage practices for inhalers
- Developing a notification system for inhaler expiry dates
- Ensuring the school has a spare emergency inhaler and spacer
- Implementing a process for escalating individual cases to health professionals and/or parents/carers when necessary.
The process is straightforward, and upon successful completion of the Asthma Friendly Standards, schools will receive a letter to inform students and their parents/carers, along with an Asthma Friendly School logo, which can be used on official documents, websites, and social media.
This award is supported by a joint venture between Humber and North Yorkshire ICB and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and is open to all schools, including primary, secondary, private, independent, and state schools. The City of York Council is encouraging all York schools to get involved.
Councillor Bob Webb, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This initiative will help support staff and pupils across the city, ensuring our schools can provide the right support to all children who need it, however they are affected by asthma. I’d encourage schools across the city to become Asthma Friendly.”
Clifton Green Primary School has already started working towards accreditation.
Headteacher Nicola Adams said: “Our school proudly supports the Asthma Friendly Schools initiative launched across York. We look forward to improving the management of asthma both in and out of school as well as raising awareness across young people, staff, and families. We aim to create a safe and inclusive environment for all pupils and recognise the importance of this initiative in prioritising this life-threatening yet very common condition.”
The Asthma Friendly School Award is renewed every two years, providing schools with professional support to meet a set of asthma-friendly standards that will positively impact the health, wellbeing, and education of children and young people with asthma.
Having been successfully implemented in London for several years, the scheme has already helped reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and lower school absenteeism.
