Teachers are "perplexed" at rules preventing them giving painkillers to pupils suffering headaches, MPs were told on Monday.
Education Secretary Michael Gove said teaching unions wanted red tape slashed so teachers could treat sick youngsters with basic medicine.
He told MPs: "The trade's unions have been raising their perplexity that some of the rules and regulations about the administration of medicine are too bureaucratic."
Speaking at education questions in the Commons, Tory MP Douglas Carswell said a headmistress spoke to him about her concerns over Whitehall guidelines issued in March 2005 under Labour "regarding the administration of non-prescription drugs by teachers to those in their care".
The Clacton MP added: "They appear to rule out giving a child in need of paracetamol a paracetamol.
"This doesn't seem very common-sense or very 'big society'."