The Welsh Government has announced that it supports an amendment to a Bill that will benefit thousands of children across Wales
The Welsh Government recently supported an amendment to an important Bill which will benefit thousands of families of children with medical conditions across Wales, thanks to campaigning from a group of health and children's organisations led by Diabetes UK Cymru.
In England, there has been a legal duty to support pupils with medical conditions in school since 2014, but this legislation does not currently apply in Wales.
Diabetes UK Cymru has coordinated the call for the new Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill to specifically mention children with medical conditions, to give them the same protection as other vulnerable groups.
Daily pressures
While some children and young people have access to excellent support in school, others are struggling every day to access education. Many families across Wales who already face the daily pressures of living with a serious medical condition such as Type 1 diabetes have had to fight to stay safe and be fully involved in school life.
The current support system, known as the Special Education Needs (SEN) Framework, is being reformed. This amendment ensures that existing support will not be removed, and that the new system will offer support to all children with a medical condition in Wales.
The Bill will go under further consideration in the next few months before passing into law.
The right support
Diabetes UK Cymru’s National Director Dai Williams said, “To succeed in school, children with Type 1 diabetes need the right support. But families across Wales have told us that whilst some children are receiving excellent care, this isn’t the case for all. Before this amendment, the Bill remained open to interpretation, meaning there was a risk that the variability in the system would increase.
“We are delighted that Welsh Government has taken this opportunity to reform this key piece of legislation, to ensure these children are protected. These children are already in a vulnerable position but with the right support we know they can reach their full potential and not be left behind.
“Diabetes UK Cymru would like to thank all AMs who have supported this amendment so far and encourage their continued commitment as it progresses through the Assembly.”
To find out more about the work we do, go to our Campaigns page.
