(2) what steps his Department has taken to ensure that schools provide appropriate support for children diagnosed with diabetes; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how much his Department has allocated for expenditure on support for children diagnosed with diabetes in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Our guidance to schools, ‘Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings’, issued jointly with the Department of Health in 2005, encourages schools and local authorities to develop policies on the management of pupils’ medicines and on supporting pupils with medical needs; taking account of local resources and their various responsibilities. We also produced sister guidance in the same year, entitled ‘Including me: managing complex health needs in schools and early years settings’.
In April 2007, the Department of Health published a report entitled ‘Making Every Young Person with Diabetes Matter’, and has convened a group to support the implementation of best practice as set out in the report. The Department for Children, Schools and Families is represented on that group.
Also, since September 2007 schools have a duty to promote the well-being of all pupils, including those with long term medical conditions. This duty defines well-being as the five outcomes of Every Child Matters, including being healthy and staying safe.
Central Government allocates funding to local authorities based on need in their area. They then agree with their schools how funding is to be delegated. Therefore we do not dictate how much individual schools and local authorities are to spend on support for children diagnosed with diabetes.