Secondary school application diabetes

[Loulou838383]

Any advice would be invaluable, I applied on medical ground for my daughters secondary school on the basis that she has type1 diabetes and basically the local nearest school would be the most suitable and only school for her.

based on the reasons of it being the nearest school, the route is familiar, she has a support network along the route, the route is along the high street which has many shops and cafes and high pedestrian flow if she was to go low which could be life threatening. The location of the school will cause her less stress which will also help her to manage her diabetes levels better. If she had hypos or hypers in the night and disturbed sleep the proximity would allow her to sleep in longer to get the extra rest she needs (fatigue can also affect her blood glucose levels) the school has a regular pattern and finishes and starts at the same time and routine is great for someone with diabetes. Unfortunately she didn’t get her 1st choice and got the next nearest school. This is around another 10 minutes away but the worst thing is she doesn’t pass a single shop or cafe and doesn’t know anyone who lives along the route. If for some reason she needed extra sugar time is of the essence and having no shops along the route could be life treating. This route is also on a busy dual carriageway so no pedestrian flow that could help her if she where to have a hypo or hypers. We are obviously appealing and stating that our first choice is her only school due to its proximity and location . We have a letter from our diabetes nurses and now we have a letter from our local MP supporting our case. What else can I do and has anyone else been put in this predicament. Thanks

I'd be very surprised if this wins an appeal, unless your DD is known to be a brittle diabetic. She needs a 'go bag' of snacks, jelly babies, sugar sachets, etc. You're talking about the difference of 10 minutes journey.

Not sure how much weight your argument will have.
One of DD 's high school friends is T1 diabetic. School was 40 minutes drive away or bus ride.
Her friend always has food with her and her sugar levels are well managed with a monitor that communicates with her phone.

I think most people underestimate how tricky and constant Type 1 diabetes is to manage. But I also think your argument here is a stretch. Presumably she carries hypo treatments? And wears a cgm that you can follow, so you’d know if she was dropping and get to her if she didn’t treat?

Sorry but as an insulin dependent diabetic (complicated type) that argument is nonsense.

alarms, parental tracking, sugar/carb bag etc.
I don’t think she’ll be the only child walking to school.

and as for unfamiliar route - practice the route over summer and it will be familiar.

unless she’s never going to go somewhere ‘unfamiliar’

Does your preferred school have a category for medical/social need in its oversubscription criteria? If so, you should check with the admissions authority that your application was considered under that criterion.

I too would be surprised if an appeal on these grounds succeeded, but (as always) much depends on how strong a case the school makes for being full and unable to admit an extra pupil. The appeal panel will expect to see medical evidence which clearly sets out why, in the opinion of the health care professionals, the child needs to attend the preferred school and will be disadvantaged if not given a place.

I agree with others that I would only expect this case to win if the school's case to refuse admission is weak and the cases put forward by other appellants are also weak. However, you never know. Good medical evidence will certainly help, but I would also look to strengthen your case if you can by identifying other things this school offers that are not available at the allocated school and are particularly relevant to your daughter.

In general any school is expected to be able to handle the medical needs of type 1 diabetes so if she has unusual circumstances - recent admissions, unstable sugars etc then you should mention these.

what are the current monitoring arrangements for her? Most students by this point carry biscuits/jellies etc.

How long has she had diabetes? I could understand if she has only recently developed it and is not coping well, or has sudden hypos that affect her ability to respond to an alarm (does she have a CGM) but otherwise there will be children with T1D in all schools and managing their journeys. I do get it, even after 30 years with it my DH occasionally just forgets to take sugary snacks out with him and has to find a shop or pub but it really has got to be a rock solid part of the organisation of going to school.