North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to assure concerned parents of diabetic children in North Wales that funding to provide one-to-one support in schools will be safeguarded.
Mr Isherwood raised the matter in the Assembly during yesterday’s Plenary session.
Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Education, he said:
“After concerns were raised with me by parents who were being told that there would be cuts in one-to-one support in Gwynedd primary schools for their children with type 1 diabetes, they’ve told me that they have received good news, they’ve found a fantastic way forward, and they’re pleased with the approach adopted by council staff and their willingness to collaborate.
“However, they expressed concern that this is funded through ALN (Additional Learning Needs) budgets and they are seeking assurance from the Welsh Government that its upcoming ALN Bill will not compromise that funding. What assurances can you provide for them?”
The Cabinet Secretary replied: “In the approach that we’re taking, there should be no reduction or diminution in services. In fact, there should be a provision of services that are tailored to the needs of the individual, and those services available potentially to more people, and not fewer people, and that those services will be funded.”
He added: “I would say, since the Member’s mentioned the needs of children with diabetes, we are publishing next week a set of statutory guidance on how children with healthcare needs should be supported within the school and other settings.”
Mr Isherwood added: “Historically, Special Educational Needs (SEN) funding in Wales has been used for medical conditions support in schools. As medical conditions are not currently included in the proposed ALN reforms, there is a real risk that this funding will be removed and will not be replaced or reallocated to medical conditions support. I will therefore write to the Minister seeking assurance that local authorities will still be able to meet the needs of children with Type 1 Diabetes and other medical conditions.”
ENDS