The School’s First Conversation About the Condition

The school needs the medical specifics, and your child needs to be known for more than their condition.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 5 to 13.

Where to start

Bring a one-page written summary the school can keep.
Use the Diabetes UK or Epilepsy Action templates; schools recognise them.
Reassure your child: “You’re still Olivia who likes maths, not Olivia who has diabetes.”
In our practice, parents often rehearse this meeting for longer than it takes. The meeting itself is short, with the SENCo, the pastoral lead, the class teacher and you. The school needs the specifics: the medication, the warning signs, the emergency protocol, the day-to-day adjustments. Walk through the one-page summary. Agree who tells the class, what they’re told and who manages the practical day-to-day. Ask whether the school wants any further training. Many UK schools have policies on diabetes and epilepsy specifically, and a follow-up training session is often available through the charity for the condition.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

Diabetes UK and Epilepsy Action, school care plan templates; Contact, family-side support

It goes with

What to Do When School Is the Problem. For parents whose child has started dreading school.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

Family stress. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
School stress. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

The rest of the library

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If you need help right now

If you or your child is in immediate danger: 999 · Go to your nearest A&E · 24/7.
If either you or your child is in a mental health crisis: NHS 111 · England, Scotland and Wales: call 111 and choose the mental-health option. Northern Ireland: call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 · 24/7.
If your child is under 19 and needs to talk to someone themselves: Childline · 0800 1111 · 24/7 · www.childline.org.uk.
If you are worried that a child is being harmed or is at risk: NSPCC Helpline · 0808 800 5000 · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm by phone; email 11am-4pm, seven days a week. An email sent when the service is closed is not received. · email help@nspcc.org.uk · www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-services/nspcc-helpline · If the NSPCC service is closed and the concern cannot wait, call the police on 101. You can also contact the child’s local out-of-hours children’s social care, social work or social services team. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you would prefer to text rather than speak: Shout · Text SHOUT to 85258 · 24/7 · giveusashout.org.
If you or someone you are worried about needs someone to talk to: Samaritans · 116 123 · 24/7 · www.samaritans.org.

If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.