My top tips for managing CF at secondary school

Going to a new place and a bigger school can feel quite scary but everything works out. You might have lessons that you’ve never had before or meet people that you’d like to be friends with, but once you have settled down, know where your lessons are and have made new friends, it’s time to start thinking about your CF and how you manage it at school. 

This is what I have learnt so far to manage my CF at secondary school:

Independence

In primary school my teachers reminded me to wash my hands before I eat, but now I’m in secondary school I carry hand gel in my bag and use it every time before I eat.

Treatment

Having a routine helps me to be organised and leave the house on time. It is a clear way to know when everything needs to happen. I set my alarm to allow me enough time to do everything in the morning. I do my neb and other medication first thing, so it is done and I don’t have to think about it anymore.

Telling friends 

I wanted to tell my new friends about my CF, but I waited until I got to know them better. There is no right time to tell anyone, just whenever you feel comfortable. My friends are really supportive, and I tell them when I go for an appointment. They don’t usually ask any questions but if they do, I feel fine to answer them with the amount of detail I feel comfortable saying.

Appointments 

I didn’t want to miss too much school with having appointments, so we asked the CF team if I could have some during school holidays, or the latest appointment of the day, so I’m not missing as many lessons. My CF team are very supportive and help me balance school life with my CF care.

Time out passes

I find having a time out pass really helpful if I need to go and take any medication, or if I am feeling unwell and need to cough outside the classroom. The school might have their own passes, but the Trust also have some that you can download and use. If I feel unwell then I’m allowed to go to the SENCO office where it’s quiet rather than going to the school nurse, where other children go when they are unwell and where I could risk catching their germs.

Staff and support

Information about my CF is in a healthcare plan, so that teachers can look at it if they need to have a better understanding of my condition. My head of year office has spare water bottles in the fridge, for when I run out in the summer and need a top up. There are different members of staff that I know I can go to if I need support, these include my form tutor, head of year and SENCO Staff. Whenever I go to them looking for help, they are always very supportive. 

Find more information on CF and secondary school.