Can anyone tell me what will happen when my DD goes to school?

[used2bthin]

Its a way off now but am having one of my late night panics. She has medical needs as she has a life threatening condition but should have no other special needs so will go to MS school. I think I read somewhere though that it is up to the school or even the individual teacher to decide whether they will perform medical procedures. If so it would mean(if they said no)DD could not go to that school so surely that is discrimination as really that would be excluding her? I am confused! If it is down to the teacher does that mean if her teacher say when she is 5 agrees to do it then she moves class and that teacher does not want the responsibility then she has to move school/classes till someone will? Or am I just panicking over nothing?

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Probably worth asking now. She can't be excluded from school because of a medical condition but you'd want one with a school nurse otherwise they will call you in for everything.
DD is at mainstream and her epielsy med goes with her. Having said that, they said they weren't 'allowed' to administer it, that the ambulance crew would.

u2bt - I think if i were you i would go and talk now to the schools that she would be likely to go to - ask to talk to the SENCO and the Head. And then find out who in your LEA is responsible fro advising on this sort of thing.

A friend of mine has a dd who has anaphalactic-shock level allergies - and was refused admission to one school as the head / governnors decided that staff could not be given the responsibility of administering an epi-pen. Meanwhile the other nearest school (the one they favoured for various reasons to do wth how food was dealt with within the school) had so few 'proximity' places because of siblings that she couldn't get in, and they refused to consider the allergy situation as an SEN eoligible for proirity admission!!!!
Call your LEA and see if there is someonbe you can talk to who looks after SEN or inclusion, and seek advice.

Thanks everyone. NMC, the ambulance thing is difficult, we are on a special list but even so it is not guarenteed that paramedics would give the injection as it is intramuscular, long story but I have been told to make sure someone is there to give it instantly because of such risk if its delayed(coma and death). Can't imagine trusting anyone else to look after her actually scary but I guess you get used to it? Do schools still have a nurse? That would be ideal then I'd just have to cover if they were'nt in.

Blu your poor friend what did she do? I will be moving areas but have yet to find somewhere so not sure which school yet but contacting the LEA is a very good idea I will do that, I wonder if its too early though she's 15months what does everyone think?

Hi, as the mum of a little boy with peanut allergy I know where you are coming from. I would also not wish to send him to a school where an epi-pen would not be administered if necessary (if it was enough for the ambulance crew to administer it then people wouldn't have to carry them).

I suggest you wait a little before contacting schools - a lot could change before your lo attends (new head etc)which would make an assurances you'd been given obsolete but look into this before you put down your preferences. As your daughter will need an injection, requiring some medical know-how rather than an epi-pen (simpler) then I agree that a school with a nurse would be ideal, but I'm not sure many still have these.

u2bt - My friend was first of all left with no school place at all - except one in a failing school miles away from their house and in the opposite direction from her work...(at which point she resolved to not send her dd to school at all and let them try to take her to prison if necessary - her DP is a Human Rights barrister!) and then at the last minute a place became available in a school which is not as close to their house as the proper 'local' schools, but which they can manage, and are happy with the school.

But I don't think it was dealt with satisfactorily by the LEA at all!

Would your dd's condition mean she was eligible for a statement, I wonder?

Don't panic - but LEAs don't always dela well with cases which don't fit an obvious 'category'. I can see the dilemma of starting early, because it could potentially affect which school you move to. Probably bgest to talk to the LEA. But also, do your research and look up the law on your dd's right to schooling, and what the DDA means in terms if educational provision. Not sure which booklets you need - but you could consult the DfES publications dept - and maybe other MN-ers can help. Someone sent me copies of the ones relevant to my DS's situation - but they will be out of date now.

wb good point about contacting schools, will contact LEA though when(if!) I manage to find a landlord who will take me and DD on even though I am a 'claimant' as one landlord charmingly put it today in an e mail about why it wasn't appropriate for me to view his property. But ANYWAY thats a different thread!

Blu yes I think I may need to research it soon. Does anyone know about anywhere that would be a good place to ask? Citzens advice would they be able to help do we think? Or maybe carers centre? She also relies on medication so will need this during the school day along with quite monitering for signs of illness etc. So maybe would need a statement I'm not sure though because developmentally she should need no more attention than others. Am in touch with a support group so may get on to them soon too.