Anyone here with good school support stories>

[Jackie UK]

Are there any parents out there with good school support in place in state schools or private schools?

How did you achieve this? Do you get funded support? A statement? Other?

Was your DSN instrumental in getting the school to take on board the diabetes care in school?

Did you have to move school?

[daniela mummy]

my son started school in september and no problem until now i stay for two weeks with the teachers and ta and they are doing the best theycan

[Jackie UK]

my son started school in september and no problem until now i stay for two weeks with the teachers and ta and they are doing the best theycan

Hi Daniela

Thanks for the reply


I am really pleased to hear that you have had good support for your child. Whereabouts do you live what area of the UK? Sadly most young children dont get very good support at all.

I just wonder if the school had any particular ways of doing things. ideas which work well. I am collecting expirences from parents who do get good support so that we can show other schools how things can be managed.

How many people are trained to give care? Does you child need injections at school? Sorry for all the questions, but its helpful for other parents to hear how other schools do things.

[daniela mummy]

i live in bexhill on sea and my son goes to a catholic school every body in the school including the head teacher has been trained i spent two weeks in the class to show how everything can change inminutes especialy when on play ground and pe lessons now if thereis a problem i can answer my mobile at work {only 5 minutes by car **thanks to my very understanding manager and ican leave work without prearrengement if any emergency arises.Nothing like that yet hopefullynot this year because since has been diagnosed 18 april 2007he is never been in a diabetic coma.I told the SENCOteacher about the LEA grant and extra insurance cover for teachers [all information given at diabete uk brighton group meeting about school and diabete,it was very good]if anybody want more info can contact me trough my personal email page729@btinternet.com

[Jackie UK]

i live in bexhill on sea and my son goes to a catholic school every body in the school including the head teacher has been trained i spent two weeks in the class to show how everything can change inminutes especialy when on play ground and pe lessons now if thereis a problem i can answer my mobile at work {only 5 minutes by car **thanks to my very understanding manager and ican leave work without prearrengement if any emergency arises.Nothing like that yet hopefullynot this year because since has been diagnosed 18 april 2007he is never been in a diabetic coma.I told the SENCOteacher about the LEA grant and extra insurance cover for teachers [all information given at diabete uk brighton group meeting about school and diabete,it was very good]if anybody want more info can contact me trough my personal email page729@btinternet.com

Hi Daniela


I have a friend who lives at Bexhill on Sea. She has two boys with diabetes a little older than your son. I met her through the UK CWD mailing list. I live in Gloucestershire. Have you been able to get funding from the LEA? Is this via a statement of SENs or something else?

I havent heard about extra insurance being needed either before.

I will write again. Thank you.

[daniela mummy]

the teachers that really look after a diabetic child should have a full indemnity insurance paid by the LEAand the school a grant for the training of the staff all this because youdo not have a statement andall this vary from your LEA FUNDING AVAILABILITY. I did not ask the SENCO TEACHER how much the school got the important thing for me is that are looking after my boy the best they can.ANOTHER THING is diabetes is classified as a disability so this is why needs to be funded from the LEA

[Jackie UK]

the teachers that really look after a diabetic child should have a full indemnity insurance paid by the LEAand the school a grant for the training of the staff all this because youdo not have a statement andall this vary from your LEA FUNDING AVAILABILITY. I did not ask the SENCO TEACHER how much the school got the important thing for me is that are looking after my boy the best they can.ANOTHER THING is diabetes is classified as a disability so this is why needs to be funded from the LEA



Hi Daniela

I am really pleased to hear that someone has a school and LEA who do care and who give your son very good support. This is quite unusual.

Teachers or school staff may worry about the liability should something goes wrong, but the issue of liability is set out. If a teacher, head teacher or other member of staff carries out the treatment, using the agreed procedures and care plans and have received regular training, then they will be covered by the local authority insurance and cannot be held liable for accidents. Its always best for schools and LEAs to check that they are covered but most if not all schools should be covered already if they are trained to administer epi pens, or support children with epilepsy or asthma

Employers, either the LEA or the governing body has a legal duty to provide a health and safety policy in writing with procedures for the management and administration of medication. If these are followed, then the teacher or school support worker will not be liable if something goes wrong and a member of the school staff has acted in good faith.


Unfortunately most LEAs do not see diabetes as a disability and parents are frequently told that no one gets a statement of funding for medical needs.

At the moment if a school chooses not the help and the LEA cant change their minds, there is nothing that can be done but for a parent to take the school to a SENDIST tribunal. Which is a daunting prospect for any parent.

Local Authorities Health and Safety team for schools do have to actively encourage schools to adopt the right supportive approach, but if a school refuses to take a child on a school trip or wont provide support, the LA does not have the authority to compel the school to do this.

When schools refuse to help there is no further direct action that the LAs (Local Authority) can take in this matter, either with regard to schools’ putting the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) formerly the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) guidance into practice or in taking schools to task where they are accused of discriminating against pupils with disabilities. It is left to the parents to fight for support.

It really is appalling that children with diabetes are suffering because adults will not take on the task of helping children with diabetes.

Thankfully there are a few schools that do support children well but these schools are few and far between.

[TheFakeKiwi]

Hi Jackie, it's Kat (Nathan's Mum off the email list)

I think our school are fantastic and I couldn't fault them. Nathan's in a primary school in Edmonton.

I hope none of this sounds blaze but things are very relaxed and informal between us and the school, and I only really deal with the Medical Ladies for Nathan's care. His teachers are always shown what to do in a Hypo emergency but other than that if he feel funny he's taken to the Medical roomto be checked and dealt with if needed.

I gave our Medical ladies a laminated sheet with the care details on it. Not only to ensure they could remind themselves what they needed to do, but also to protect themselves, meaning if they dont' deviate from what I've written and things still go wrong, it's not their fault just the way (flippin') diabetes goes.... They also write daily in a book that goes in his lunch bag of sugars during the day, insulin given and in what arm and any times he's gone into the Medical room saying he feels dizzy/what his sugars were at the time....

There have been a couple of 'mishaps' where he's been hypo, they've not treated him but given him his insulin and sent him on his merry way, but they were in the early days and I've known at the end of the day as it's all written in the book that comes home. I've then spoken to then the next day to gently remind them the proceedures. But there have been so few hiccups like that in the 2 years he's been diagnosed anyway.

Personally I think the key here is the way the school itself runs. Though the school has got some of the best grade in the country, it's very relaxed and friendly. That makes them approachable for a start. Also the staff therefore seem very easy going and just seem to take Nathan's condition in their stride. The only slight exception to this is Nathan's current teacher who doesn't have much confidence dealing with hypos. But the way I see it is that I can't force anyone to be a whizz kid at his care and I'd rather keep relations good than force something on someone. That said she knows the emergency treatment proceedures and I know she'll use them if needed, whilst getting aomeone to run for the medical ladies so they can take over, and she's aware that Nathan needs to go to the medical room if he's not feeling good, so really it has had no impact yet on Nathan's care.

Not sure if that's the kind of info you're after?

[Jackie UK]

[QUOTE=TheFakeKiwi;327165]Hi Jackie, it's Kat (Nathan's Mum off the email list)

I think our school are fantastic and I couldn't fault them. Nathan's in a primary school in Edmonton.

I hope none of this sounds blaze but things are very relaxed and informal between us and the school, and I only really deal with the Medical Ladies for Nathan's care. His teachers are always shown what to do in a Hypo emergency but other than that if he feel funny he's taken to the Medical roomto be checked and dealt with if needed.

Hi Kat


Thanks very much. I always think that it's good to hear how some schools manage so well. One always hopes that one might hear tips on how else a parent can approach the school and get good care.

However it seems to depend so much on the school rather that the parents input. You might think if parents made arrangements to go into school months before and the DSN has visited the school for training and there were simple A4 instruction leaflets and more info in a file, that things would go well. However there seems to be no relationship between what info is given the school and when. Some parents seem to go to a lot of trouble in preparation and are prepared to visit the school until the care passes to the school and they are confident to take over. But this doesnt seem to guarantee that the school will provide help and support. Unfortunately some schools really dont want to take on the responsibility and do there upmost to avoid having to ahave a child with diabetes in school.

I am always pleased to hear a success story.

[anele60]

Are there any parents out there with good school support in place in state schools or private schools?

How did you achieve this? Do you get funded support? A statement? Other?

Was your DSN instrumental in getting the school to take on board the diabetes care in school?

Did you have to move school?

hi Jackie,
this is a very good thread because,unfortunately,not all schools are taken diabetes to serious.
my daughter,Diana,was in COEDFFRANK PRIMARY SCHOOL/Skewen/S.Wales from nursery,in all this years she had over96% atendance.in junior she even help peers with maths,but the moment Diana was diagn. with diabetes everything changed.she was treated so badly by school that she endup thinking that is her fault that she developed diabetes.because Diana do not have 'hypo' warrings she was dooing the b.g test every 2 hours,the teacher sent her in the hallway ''not to disturb his class''.when Diana did not want to help another child on regular bases because she have poor concentration the teacher said that he cannot put someone else because is the end of the school year.i did convince him othherwise.one day she was in the hall with the school singing,she start feeling unwell and the teacher sent her ,alone,to do ''what ever u have to do''and to come back.diana's b.g was 1.9 and it took her 10 mins to treat for 'hypo'.i spoke with headmistress and wellfear officer and after from teachers to helpers was given her 'advice',when she had snack the teacher said''wathever u have in ur mouth spit out'' or u are not allowed this etc.the nursesfrom hospital went again and again to do training...in thr end we moved to Swansea,Mayhill.everyone we knew said that is a very bad decision and that the area and schools are bad.now my daughter is in TOWNHILL COMM.SCHOOL and i still cannot believe how lucky we are to find this school.the nurse from hospital went ONCE and she was very impresed.
they have the koledge but most inportant is the way they treat the children (not only my child) .i had to go to the new school for few weeks to supervise diana with her injection because she still felt like in the other school but now even if i ask my daughter if she want my to go with her in bad days she refuse because she is confident and positive that she have support and help if she needed.
i hope that the gouvenment are more aware and do more to improuve the education of schools staff regardind children with cronic illnesses because is hard enough for a child to adjust to the new life and more hard when a adult act like is the child's foult been ill.

[Jackie UK]

hi Jackie,
this is a very good thread because,unfortunately,not all schools are taken diabetes to serious.
my daughter,Diana,was in COEDFFRANK PRIMARY SCHOOL/Skewen/S.Wales from nursery,in all this years she had over96% atendance.in junior she even help peers with maths,but the moment Diana was diagn. with diabetes everything changed.she was treated so badly by school that she endup thinking that is her fault that she developed diabetes.because Diana do not have 'hypo' warrings she was dooing the b.g test every 2 hours,the teacher sent her in the hallway ''not to disturb his class''.when Diana did not want to help another child on regular bases because she have poor concentration the teacher said that he cannot put someone else because is the end of the school year.i did convince him othherwise.one day she was in the hall with the school singing,she start feeling unwell and the teacher sent her ,alone,to do ''what ever u have to do''and to come back.diana's b.g was 1.9 and it took her 10 mins to treat for 'hypo'.i spoke with headmistress and wellfear officer and after from teachers to helpers was given her 'advice',when she had snack the teacher said''wathever u have in ur mouth spit out'' or u are not allowed this etc.the nursesfrom hospital went again and again to do training...in thr end we moved to Swansea,Mayhill.everyone we knew said that is a very bad decision and that the area and schools are bad.now my daughter is in TOWNHILL COMM.SCHOOL and i still cannot believe how lucky we are to find this school.the nurse from hospital went ONCE and she was very impresed.
they have the koledge but most inportant is the way they treat the children (not only my child) .i had to go to the new school for few weeks to supervise diana with her injection because she still felt like in the other school but now even if i ask my daughter if she want my to go with her in bad days she refuse because she is confident and positive that she have support and help if she needed.
i hope that the gouvenment are more aware and do more to improuve the education of schools staff regardind children with cronic illnesses because is hard enough for a child to adjust to the new life and more hard when a adult act like is the child's foult been ill.


Hi Diana

I dont think we have spoken before. How terrible it was for your daughter’s first school to treat your daughter as if she was a nuisance. It must have been heart breaking for both you and your daughter. I am sure if a child had a visible condition and was treated in this manner, it would soon be brought to the attention of the media. For the last two years members of the UK Children with Diabetes mailing list and this message board, have been working with Diabetes UK, JDRF and INPUT to raise awareness of this problem.

Just over two years ago I was writing to DUK to tell them yet again of the problems in schools. At the time I had members of the mailing list telling me daily of the awful problems in school and at this time DUK was doing nothing to address the problems, their information for schools was poor and they were actually telling parents that it was their responsibility to carry out blood tests and injections if a school declined to help and that most schools wouldn’t do them anyway. This also didn’t address the problems of children who didn’t need injections at school, or could do their own but were still being treated very badly by the schools. In response to parents saying that they had to work DUK suggested parents use their child’s benefits to pay for someone else to go into school! I pointed out that other children with medical conditions or disabilities could get support from the LA or school’s own budget to pay for support. My emails and phone calls were ignored. Eventually I heard about another report called Making Every Young Person With Diabetes Matter.

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Reports/MakingEveryYoungPersonMatter.pdf

I had heard of Dr Fiona Campbell who worked on this report. After hearing yet two more cases of poor support at school one day I phoned John Davis, who works raising awareness of Insulin pump therapy and who knows Dr Campbell to ask about this report. The report was not necessarily to do with schools but support in hospitals and clinic. John was horrified about the problems in schools and John contacted various other medical professionals to help form an action group. We called the first meeting about schools in 2007. We have been working with DUK and the other members of the group ever since. Now a report has been produced I would hope that some things will change now, but I fear unless there current legislation is changed to make it clear exactly what support should be give to children with diabetes in school and to give the LA (Local Authorities) power to enforce schools to comply with the current Disability Equality Duty then the problems will continue. Currently it is often taking months to get care in place at schools and you often cannot guarantee that the next year will ok just because the year before was. A lot depends on the attitude of the class teacher.

One of the problems is, that a budget is given to all schools which are supposed to pay for extra support needed for children with disabilities, which included children with medical needs such as diabetes. However schools frequently regard this pot of money as "their own" and are very reluctant to use it to support children with hidden disabilities. It is good to hear that your daughter’s new schools has been wonderful in stepping up to the challenge.

[hyhughes]

Hi Jackie,

I have a good school report to tell. Charlotte was diagononsed in May 08 she was in year 6. We live in Portishead, North Somerset and she attended ST Peters Primary School. Before we even came home from hospital our PDSN had visited the school. We came home on the Friday and then it was a week of half term. Charlotte went back to school on the following Monday. I have to say they were great, they offered her what ever she wanted, test in class, out of class etc, the GA took the responsibility of caring for Charlotte. Alll meds were kept in the first aid room, where charlotte did her injections, she was allowed to keep her test kit with her and snack when ever, i had total access to the medical room inorder to replace items.

One week after Charlotte returned to school she was due to go on her school camp. It was a week long residential doing canoeing, climbing, etc full on activities. It was impossible for her to go as we still didnt fully know what to expect when she did lots of excerise. So the school invited one of us to go with her. My husband Rob took up the challenge and had a ball. The school covered all the costs, the catering manager of the residential site contacted us to discuss what food charlotte would prefer to eat. When she had hypos in the night, the GA contacted Rob who was sleeping else where and then he went and saw to Charlotte. She had a good camp holiday and we had peace of mind, (i had a lovely week).

On returning to school they were still on the ball, it was noticed during service one day that Charlotte was looking pale she was taken into the hall foyer and given snacks etc, During sports day while i was watching my other child, Charlotte was brought to me as she didnt feel right.

There were times when perhaps the actions were not the correct ones but on the whole they cared for Charlotte and for that i was very grateful. Not such a positive responsive in her new secondary school but thats another story!

[Jackie UK]

Hi Jackie,


One week after Charlotte returned to school she was due to go on her school camp. It was a week long residential doing canoeing, climbing, etc full on activities. It was impossible for her to go as we still didnt fully know what to expect when she did lots of excerise. So the school invited one of us to go with her. My husband Rob took up the challenge and had a ball. The school covered all the costs, the catering manager of the residential site contacted us to discuss what food charlotte would prefer to eat. When she had hypos in the night, the GA contacted Rob who was sleeping else where and then he went and saw to Charlotte. She had a good camp holiday and we had peace of mind, (i had a lovely week).

On returning to school they were still on the ball, it was noticed during service one day that Charlotte was looking pale she was taken into the hall foyer and given snacks etc, During sports day while i was watching my other child, Charlotte was brought to me as she didnt feel right.

There were times when perhaps the actions were not the correct ones but on the whole they cared for Charlotte and for that i was very grateful. Not such a positive responsive in her new secondary school but thats another story!

Hi Hazel


Nice to meet here as well.

Its good to hear that you had a good expirence with Charlotte's primary school. I think so much depends on the willingness of a school to take on the care and learn. Its terrible that there are so many schools who do not want to help. We also went on school trips with Sasha when she was younger and they were only too pleased for Terry my husband to go. The same reasons really. We had problems dealing with the BG levels on normal days but on holidays things were very difficult.

So how have things gone with secondary school?

[Malookie]

We have been very lucky with our primary school. Since he started to do his injections on his own at lunchtime he has been assigned the same TA for the last 18 months. They have a lovely relationship. She wasn't his classroom assistant for the first term but has been since september. She oversees his injection and also reminds him to do his fingerrpicks, which he can do in the classroom. He also has dextrose and snacks in his tray in the classroom so he has instant access to everything he needs if he does go low. The teacher takes out a pack of dextrose if they do sports in the field. When he moved classes the diabetic nurse came to school and several TA' s and both classroom teachers attendied the meeting. And we drew up a notice to have in the classroom in case he had a supply teacher. I think we have been lucky in that although there are no other diabetic children in school at the moment there has been in the past and at least two teaching assistants have personal experience of friends with diabetic children. We have also had fantastic help from the lunch time staff so that if S stays for hot dinners they make sure he gets enough carbs - an extra bit of bread some days.

[Jackie UK]

[QUOTE=Malookie;368676]We have been very lucky with our primary school. Since he started to do his injections on his own at lunchtime he has been assigned the same TA for the last 18 months. They have a lovely relationship. She wasn't his classroom assistant for the first term but has been since september. She oversees his injection and also reminds him to do his fingerrpicks, which he can do in the classroom. He also has dextrose and snacks in his tray in the classroom so he has instant access to everything he needs if he does go low. The teacher takes out a pack of dextrose if they do sports in the field. >Snipped
Hi Malookie

Welcome to this forum.

I am so pleased to hear that your son has received this sort of support. Such a lot depends on the schools willingness to accommodate a pupils needs.


I am currently gathering experiences of good school practice.

Care varies a great deal across the UK and even within the same LA (Local Authority area.

Its seems to be wrong that schools can pick or choose the amount of support that is given to children and that the LA cannot compel the school to take on these tasks if they refuse.

[Philippe]

Miriam, wearer of a pump, has been attending primary school, after school club, and - one day a week - the French School in Bristol for more than a year now.
Her teachers test her mid-morning, lunch, and mid-afternoon, sometimes after sport at 5pm.
Each morning, I prepare a new "form" - see attachement - with the CHO values of her packed lunch and afternoon snack. Mid-morning she gets a toast from school = 15 g CHO.
Each teacher would follow the procedure, from 1 to 20, and tick them when done.
A little bit of training a the beginning, a year ago - partly given by our diabetic nurse (Bristol Children) - and there is always Dad or Mummy on a phone for questions.
No major problem until that day.
Feel free to use this form (Word File) and change it. No copyright!

Philippe, partner of Ariel, dad of Miriam (6) Dx 2006, Zac (12) and...? Expected anytime now...

[Jackie UK]

Miriam, wearer of a pump, has been attending primary school, after school club, and - one day a week - the French School in Bristol for more than a year now.
Her teachers test her mid-morning, lunch, and mid-afternoon, sometimes after sport at 5pm.
Each morning, I prepare a new "form" - see attachement - with the CHO values of her packed lunch and afternoon snack. Mid-morning she gets a toast from school = 15 g CHO.
Each teacher would follow the procedure, from 1 to 20, and tick them when done.
A little bit of training a the beginning, a year ago - partly given by our diabetic nurse (Bristol Children) - and there is always Dad or Mummy on a phone for questions.
No major problem until that day.
Feel free to use this form (Word File) and change it. No copyright!

Philippe, partner of Ariel, dad of Miriam (6) Dx 2006, Zac (12) and...? Expected anytime now...

Hi Philippe




Thanks for the reply. Its great to hear that some schools can give good care. I am not too far from Bristol. I live in Gloucestershire.

I couldnt find an attachment though.

[Philippe]

The Word file is too big. How should I do this?

[lisa11]

Hi
Take Heart there are some good schools out there!

My daughter has been lucky to have fantastic support from her Junior School. When I was unhappy with her insulin regime (she used to be on mixtard with loads of eating at regular intervals, which was making all our lives hell!) the school were fully behind us changing to Lantus & novorapid injections in school. And they were keen for us to start immiediately, rather than waiting for us to test it out in the summer holidays first, as they knew it would be better for her to probably do it in a regular enviroment & routine(and also she was less likely to make a fuss at school than at home!!) They learnt how to do the injections in case my daughter couldn't do it, they kept records of her blood readings and above all they made sure that she went on the week long school activity trip!! As you can imagine I was a nervous wreck but they took great care of her & in fact other than myself & my partner our school nurse probably knows more than anyone about diabetes!! The school have truly made my daughters life a lot easier. Now she is getting ready to move on to her secondary school,the junior school have given her an area at the back of her classroom to take her blood & do her lunchtime injection without supervision so that this will go someway to preparing her for the scarey road ahead where she will have to be completely responsible for herself & injections at the new secondary school (but thats a different matter entirely!!) I realise that we have been really lucky, however I do think that initially it takes an awful lot of patience (on our part to constantly explain & re-assure & to build trust) as sometimes the schools are just terrified & want to call mum/dad all the time. Good Luck!

[Jackie UK]

Hi
Take Heart there are some good schools out there!

My daughter has been lucky to have fantastic support from her Junior School. When I was unhappy with her insulin regime (she used to be on mixtard with loads of eating at regular intervals, which was making all our lives hell!) the school were fully behind us changing to Lantus & novorapid injections in school. And they were keen for us to start immiediately, rather than waiting for us to test it out in the summer holidays first, as they knew it would be better for her to probably do it in a regular enviroment & routine(and also she was less likely to make a fuss at school than at home!!) They learnt how to do the injections in case my daughter couldn't do it, they kept records of her blood readings and above all they made sure that she went on the week long school activity trip!! As you can imagine I was a nervous wreck but they took great care of her & in fact other than myself & my partner our school nurse probably knows more than anyone about diabetes!! The school have truly made my daughters life a lot easier. Now she is getting ready to move on to her secondary school,the junior school have given her an area at the back of her classroom to take her blood & do her lunchtime injection without supervision so that this will go someway to preparing her for the scarey road ahead where she will have to be completely responsible for herself & injections at the new secondary school (but thats a different matter entirely!!) I realise that we have been really lucky, however I do think that initially it takes an awful lot of patience (on our part to constantly explain & re-assure & to build trust) as sometimes the schools are just terrified & want to call mum/dad all the time. Good Luck!

Hi Lisa

Its always nice to hear that there are a few supportive schools out there. You mention a school nurse. Is this a nurse who is at the school the whole time? Most schools these days dont have a "resident" school nurse but one who is in charge of about 6 or 7 schools and may only spend a few hours or half a day at each school. I just wonder if your daughter school is a state school or a private school. I have only come across 1 other parent having a school nurse in a state school.

Some of the parents on the UK CWD mailing list have been to extrodinary lengths to support and help the schools all to no avail. We still hear about far too many schools who will not help support children with diabetes. Even when injections are involved.

Which county do you live in?

I hope that the transition to secondary school goes ok.

I did find it difficult to make sure that all the teachers had the information. We sent letter to all the teachers that my daughter was going to be taught by. However at Parents evening only one teacher seemed to know that Sasha had diabetes. sigh.......

[lisa11]

Hi Jackie

You probably already know this, but each state school has to have a detailed plan on how they deal with diabetes & diabetic children. if a school is being difficult you can ask to see a copy of their diabetic policy. Most schools do not have one, but should and if you threaten to ask to see it, they will invariably panic because while they should have a specific policy/mission statement very few do, so you can make things incredibly akward for them & most schools again, are terrified of it esculating to the govenors.

WE live in the uk in the borough of Richmond & the infant school insisted I take my daughter home every time she had a hypo,( she was in year 2 when she was diagnosed). I learnt from this when she went to the junior school to tell them that a hypo was not a send home sickness, but a "blip" and that they could call me every time & we'd discuss her blood levels etc.. How long has your child been at this school?

My daughters school is a state school. Her school nurse is, basically that the school has a"medical room" and she is a learning assistant some of the time, but the majority of the time she is the "schools nurse" who deals with all aspects of kids illness, medical conditions, lost property etc... The borough state nurse is also very nice, while she has no real knowledge of diabetes she takes an interest in my daughter and even once gave me a number to contact a diabetic nurse at a local hospital when I was having problems with our own hospital. She was transferred for a while and the replacement nurse asked my daughter horrific leading questions, like did she have nightmares about needles, did she feel different from everyone else, did she feel angry about having diabetes, was she picked on etc... totally pointless, potentially harmful questions as I felt she was leading my daughter!! Luckily original nurse transferred back, however I would not like to rely on her. Also you should ask them to allocate one person, probably a teaching aassistant that is responsible for the care of your child & see how that goes.
The problem is that while in adult life diabetes is labelled as a disability, because it is not an obvious one (visually)& because as parents we work so hard to make sure everyone percieves our children as "normal" people have no idea as to the amount of work that goes into every day. I would say find one member of staff who is supportive (if possible & work outwards from there) Another problem is that we can be labelled as "neurotic mothers", again because of lack of understanding about the condition. When my daughter was going on her activity week away ( I think the local Tesco's had less food in it than i provided for my daughter!!)they were briefly running through the last few things about the 6 hour(!) journey again & another mother interrupted to give specific details about her sons verucca & when the cream was to be administered!! Sometimes I am amazed at my levels of tolerance!!
What area are you in ?