Schools are being encouraged to adopt a new diabetes "passport" to help drive up standards of care for pupils with the condition. Launched by the InDependent Diabetes Trust, the booklet aims to help schools meet new legislation and improve diabetes care.
The Parents Passport for Schools has been designed to provide a means by which parents can formally let schools know how to manage their child's diabetes and in turn support schools to comply with new SEN regulations, as well as informing teachers about the condition.
It comes following the introduction at the beginning of the school year of a legal duty for schools in England to support youngsters with long-term health conditions, including Type 1 diabetes.
Martin Hirst, chief executive of the charity, said: "We hope that the passport will prove to be a valuable tool for families with a child with diabetes, teachers with a child with diabetes in their class, school nurses and SEN coordinators."
The passport contains a wide range of information on how a child's diabetes is managed, including dealing with high and low blood sugar levels, food and mealtimes, and insulin administration and blood-testing.
Under the Children and Families Act 2014, schools need to have a medical conditions policy in place, along with an individual healthcare plan for any children with Type 1 diabetes.
- To order copies of the Parents Passport for Schools, call 01604 622837 or email martin@iddtinternational.org. Visit http://iddtinternational.org/