Hundreds of children and young people with asthma in North Yorkshire are receiving support in their classrooms through a growing network of schools striving to improve awareness and management of the condition.
Hunmanby Primary School is the latest school in North Yorkshire to be awarded Asthma Friendly School status, recognising efforts to ensuring both staff and pupils have a good understanding of asthma and how best to support children and families dealing with the condition.
With the help of North Yorkshire Council and the Sidewalk Youth Project in Scarborough, the Filey-based school has introduced a range of measures to ensure pupils who are asthmatic feel safe, healthy, confident and fully included.
These measures involve staff completing specialist training, updating individual care plans, improving access to inhalers and strengthening communication with families and health professionals.
Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition in children in the UK. About one in 11 children and young people are affected.
According to figures, one in five children will miss school due to asthma-related symptoms, including wheezing, coughing and breathlessness, every year.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for health and adult services, Cllr Michael Harrison, said:
Being an asthma-friendly school is a real positive. It ensures emergency medication and inhalers are available and that staff are aware of the children and young people most impacted by the condition.
This recognition is thoroughly deserved and my congratulations to Hunmanby Primary School. It is encouraging to see such a thoughtful, caring and inclusive approach embedded across the whole school community.
The Asthma Friendly School award was introduced in 2018 following the national review of asthma deaths. Schools were identified as playing an important role in supporting to reduce deaths and hospital admissions.
In total, 20 schools in the county have now achieved the Asthma Friendly status, with more being encouraged to sign up and join the programme to ensure there is consistent support for school children with asthma.
The assistant headteacher of Hunmanby Primary School, Rhiannon Pearson, said:
We are very proud of our Asthma Friendly School status. The forward-thinking environment we have created minimises asthma‑related absences, ensures children stay well, allows pupils to participate confidently in indoor and outdoor lessons and offers parents peace of mind knowing their child is supported by well-informed and prepared teachers and classmates.
In addition, children are aware of the location of their inhalers and have no hesitation asking for them.
I would like to thank Sidewalk’s youth officers and North Yorkshire Council for playing a central role in helping us successfully achieve the recognition, providing guidance, clarity and hands‑on support throughout the entire process. Their involvement made what could have been a complex and demanding journey feel manageable, well‑structured and fully supported.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, added:
We want all our children to feel included, succeed and thrive during their time in school.
My congratulations to the school for their work in improving the educational experience for pupils with asthma and for creating an understanding, supportive learning and work environment.
More details on how to qualify as an asthma-friendly school can be found at Asthma Friendly Schools Award > Healthy Schools North Yorkshire
