Chronically Sick: Pupils

Helen Southworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance his Department has given to primary care trusts on advice and support for teachers in (a) developing school policy and (b) providing support to individual pupils to assist children and young people discussed with long-term conditions to manage their condition effectively in schools.

Ann Keen
In March 2005, the Department of Children Schools and Families (DCSF) published “Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings” with contributions from Department of Health. However, that guidance was for teachers rather than primary care trusts (PCTs). The National Service Framework for Children, Families and Maternity (Children’s NSF), published in 2004 included guidance for health and social care professionals as well as parents and children on managing long term conditions. For children with diabetes, the report ‘Making every young person with diabetes matter’ included a generic specification for children and young people. This included a section on managing diabetes in schools and early years settings. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library.