A HALESOWEN school has achieved a first among Black Country schools by being named an ‘Asthma Friendly School’.

Caslon Primary, on Beeches View Avenue, has been awarded the Asthma Friendly School accreditation in recognition for its work in helping children with asthma stay well.

The initiative, led by the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board’s Asthma team, encourages all schools to welcome children with asthma and put strategies in place to ensure they fully participate in school life.

To achieve the Asthma Friendly accredited status, schools must meet a list of objectives including having a staff member who is a named asthma champion and providing a school emergency inhaler and spacer device ensuring every child has a spare inhaler for emergency use stored safely on site.

Caslon Primary School was the first in the Black Country to get involved in the programme, with Year 5 pupil, Archie, designing the logo that now features on the Asthma Friendly School certificate.

Headteacher Lynnette Holden-Gough, said: “We are delighted to have achieved the asthma-friendly school award and it is a huge honour to be the first in Black Country.

“The main reason we wanted to take part was to ensure all our children feel safe and supported in school.

"It's going to make a big difference for our pupils who have asthma, which we hope will enable them to succeed and thrive during their time in school."