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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

applying to secondary school medical

13 replies

godhou3 · 15/07/2010 12:31

My son is only going to be year 5 in Sept. but thought try to be organised yes I am early I know. Can someone apply for medical reasons to a specific school? My son is diabetic and no it's not special needs however at year 7 he will be able to go to hospital appts on his own (I hope) therefore the newer school is better transport for him as well as us if there is any sort of problem as I work in the city and the overground train is only 17 mins as opposed the other schools they seem to offer near us that are a train/bus journey away.

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mummytime · 15/07/2010 12:43

You might be able to argue this, but it is tricky. I'm sure the admission experts will be here soon to help you.
Have you looked at the schools yet? I would suggest you do that first.

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bumpybecky · 15/07/2010 12:45

would you really send an 11 year old to medical appointments on his own?

I've got 10 and 12 year old girls and there's no way I'd be sending them alone to see the GP or nurse...

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godhou3 · 15/07/2010 13:05

He get there on his own and we'd meet him as it's an every 2 month appt with a specialist

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godhou3 · 15/07/2010 13:07

thanks for the info so much drama just to get into a school it's a bit depressing, I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it but I'll be crossing it sooner than later.

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cleanandclothed · 15/07/2010 13:11

Well, a while ago my parents successfully appealed to get into a school that was a) nearer to the doctors and b) had a school nurse than the school my sister had been allocated, on the basis that she was asthmatic and (given our families medical history) this might be expected to get worse over her years at secondary school.

I don't know if times have changed, but definitely worth putting it down.

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Lancelottie · 15/07/2010 13:24

You MIGHT be able to argue it on the grounds of minimum disruption to his education by being closer to hospital (though given the amount of waiting around time at most appointments, the difference is likely to be small).

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godhou3 · 15/07/2010 13:33

Luckily his waiting time is usually minimal possibly no more than 5 minutes, unlike the normal GP.

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admission · 15/07/2010 14:06

The simple answer is that any LA will argue that this is a well known medical condition that does not require a specific school to go to. There is no way that they will accept this as a medical application. Sorry

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godhou3 · 15/07/2010 14:14

Can't you put this on the application from the start or do you have to get to the appeals process before you make the statement, I will try anything as not sure where you live but where I do you don't have many choices who knows he might get in anyway without any assistance as we might be close enough. I know it doesn't require a special school but a school where it's least disruptive to him to get to/from and for me. Otherwise we'll move right across the road and that will be end of story.

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mattellie · 15/07/2010 15:05

In theory, yes, you can use medical conditions as grounds for an appeal to go to a particular school, but you have to be prepared to back up your argument that one school is better equipped to cope with your DC?s needs than another ? in the US, for example, this is easier because some schools have full-time nurses and some don?t.

In practice, I fear that admission is probably right, though while diabetes might be a well known condition it most certainly is not a well understood one in terms of its impact.

Is your son T1? If so, how does he manage his diabetes, with injections or a pump? And are you aware that he is covered by the DDA?

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godhou3 · 15/07/2010 15:12

to Mattellie: Yes he is type 1 and has had to manage his diabetes since he was 7 on his own basically He has the pump but the school really doesn't undestand or really know much we just have to bombard them with information but if in doubt call 999. Sorry I am not familiar with DDA? Both infant and jr schools don't have nurses.

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mattellie · 15/07/2010 16:14

Schools don?t have a clue, frankly (nor do most GPs, IMHO, but that?s a whole different thread ). In our experience secondary schools will expect your DS to handle it all himself, but it sounds like he?s doing that already.

DDA ? Disability Discrimination Act. T1 diabetes is covered by the Act which essentially means they are considered disabled in the eyes of the law and cannot be discriminated against purely on the grounds of their diabetes (ie excluded from school trips, choirs, sports teams etc). The acid test question is ?what happens if your DS doesn?t take his medicine??

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godhou3 · 15/07/2010 16:45

Yes as he is in junior school he has everything in the office and the 2 lovely office assistants are his life line. I am not sure how secondary schools operate but there has to be something in place for him and yes he has "forgotten" to bolus once or twice and luckily he was running around so much it didn't get too high but it can get serious really quickly with the pump. I just feel he is still a child and hopefully nurses are in place which could be my other issue but can't find anywhere that says that. I read up on DDA thanks. I guess I have a year to think about what I can do. thanks again