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Diabetes

Answer

Diabetes is a medical condition and as such teachers are dependent on medical professionals for identification, diagnosis and support.Once a school has been made aware of a pupil with this condition, the school's medical support team is contacted and medical staff give training for individual teachers, where it is deemed appropriate. Specific advice and guidance on the support required for pupils with type 1 diabetes in schools is dependent on medical advice from a Health and Social Services Trust's community paediatrician which enables provision of support and interventions, as appropriate.In addition the Education and Library Boards and Health and Social Services Trusts circulate advice and guidance to schools on the most common medical conditions e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, asthma.The Department of Education will, in the near future, be issuing guidance to schools on how to support pupils with medical needs.From 1 September 2005, the Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 will be in operation in Northern Ireland. This law will prohibit discrimination on grounds of disability in education and will require schools and general qualifications bodies to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that children and young people with disabilities are not put at a substantial disadvantage compared to those without disabilities. Type 1 diabetes would be considered a disability under this legislation.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

1414; 434 c360W;434 c362W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Children Diabetes Northern Ireland Schools Teachers Training