The Issue
A pupil had been off school for a long period of time following a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. He was placed on a pathways to school programme designed to help him smoothly transition back into school life. As part of the programme, the individual has a care plan that the school has to follow.
To help manage and monitor his blood sugar levels, the pupil is benefitting from using an app on his phone connected to a sensor on his arm. The app enables him to monitor at any time, in any place.
The school has a no phones policy.
To enforce the no phones policy, the school asked that he go to the medical area at each break time to monitor his blood sugar levels. This would sometimes require a significant walk from other areas of the school and would mean break times are used for monitoring blood levels. The school refused to sign the care plan if he did not agree to adhere to this process.
EASS Advice and Support:
We contacted the school to ask for a response as to why the no phones policy was being enforced to such a degree. We asked if they could provide a proportionate response to the need for this particular pupil to adhere to the no phones policy. We also pointed out the impact that attending the medical area each break time would have. The pupil is old enough and mature enough to monitor his own levels and finds the app very useful. .
Following our advice and support, the school agreed that the phone use could be carefully managed and that he is able to have his phone on him during the day. They will, however, have to ensure that the phone is only being used for blood sugar monitoring. He will not have to use break times to attend the medical area and can concentrate on catching up on valuable time at school.