Last Updated: 27th August 2024

Starting a new school is an exciting time for both you and your child. However, when your child has Type One Diabetes, there's more to consider than just new uniforms, shoes, and haircuts.

Building a strong partnership with the school is essential to help your child navigate this transition smoothly and confidently. This will be particularly important if they are going into Year 7 (or above), as your child will be given a lot more independence.

Depending on your child’s age and how long ago they were diagnosed, you might already be into a routine. But if it’s all-new, we’ve gathered some tried and tested tips to help you ensure your child is safe—and feels confident and secure—in their new school environment.

Be open with the school and help them understand your child's needs

1. Inform the School Early

Begin by notifying the school as soon as possible that your child has Type One Diabetes. Ideally, you should do this when you accept their school place or immediately after diagnosis.

2. Arrange a Meeting with Key School Personnel

Before the start of the term, arrange a meeting with the staff members who will be involved in supporting your child. This should include:

• Your child’s new class teacher and teaching assistant.
• The school’s SEN specialist if your child is receiving SEN support.
• Your child’s pediatric diabetes specialist nurse (PDSN).
• The headteacher and head of year.
• Relevant after-hours staff (e.g., breakfast club, after-school care).
• If applicable, their bus driver or train buddy.

This meeting should cover your child's Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP), school medical policies, and any specific needs related to their diabetes management, such as their CGM or insulin pump.

3. Understand School Procedures

Make sure you’re familiar with the school’s procedures for supporting your child:

• Medical Conditions Policy: Ensure the school has a policy that outlines how they will look after your child and fully include them in school life.
• Individual Health Care Plan (IHP): Ensure that your child's IHP is up to date and reviewed annually.
• At least two members of staff should be fully trained in diabetes care.
• Agree on a key central contact within the school to funnel any vital information through and clarify the best way to contact them.
• Emergency Contacts: Provide the school with an emergency contact and an alternative if you're unavailable.

Support the School & Be Proactive

The most important and effective way to support your child is to ensure regular and constructive communication with their school and their diabetes team within school.

Check and agree on who within the school needs to receive training; who will deliver it (your PDSN might be best placed) and when; and what training is required. Start with the basics:

Clearly explain what your child needs and why it's so important

• How insulin works.
• Low blood sugar episodes and high ones, and how to treat them.
• How to test a child’s blood sugar.
• What is a CGM? How does a CGM work? (if relevant)
• What is an Insulin Pump? How does it work? (if relevant)
• How access to the child's mobile phone may be essential for their care
• How your child specifically responds to things & certain types of foods. Everyone's diabetes is different!
• Things to watch out for, like excessive thirst and toilet breaks.

From the outset, you may also need to explain certain vital features essential to your child’s care so they appreciate when/how they will occur. These might include:

Freedom to use their phone throughout the school day – your child needs their phone to receive essential data, for example, if they are using Dexcom G6, Dexcom One, Dexcom G7, or even Freestyle Libre.

• Freedom to eat/drink in class – what they might need to eat and when.
• Freedom to leave class for medical reasons – maybe negotiate a toilet pass, which will be very useful now your child will be under the care of many more staff members and/or supply teachers.
• Freedom to check readings and tests - agreeing to where they can do this.
• Concentration and attention spans, memory processing speeds – as these might be affected, your child may require extra support.

One parent advised us that their child carries traffic-light-style cards that they can display on their desks with no fuss:

Yellow: “I am having a hypo and managing it myself. Please let me get on with this.”

Red: “I am having a bad hypo. Please stay with me while I manage this."

Also be open with teachers who haven’t an understanding of diabetes management that it really is a burden on your child, so they can avoid making thoughtless comments which might have a negative impact.

Be pro-active in helping your child integrate socially

Your child may feel "different" due to their diabetes. Work with them to decide how open they want to be with classmates. Some children may choose to keep their condition private, while others might be more open. Consider using decorative patches or stickers for their CGM to boost their confidence.

Prepare for potential challenges, such as teasing or bullying, and have a strategy in place to deal with these issues. Collaborate with the school and your child’s diabetes care team to support your child socially. 

Check that there are  Diabetes-Friendly lunches available

Assuming your child is having a packed lunch, you can help them ensure their meal meets their diabetes goals:

• Plan balanced meals together, focusing on appropriate portion sizes and carbohydrate counting.
• Use a meal planning chart or the Diabetes Plate Method to teach your child how to portion their lunch effectively.
• Diabetes UK has extensive information on this topic.