Family/childcare
21 months and has been pumping Medtronic
‘Childcare issues
different,’ says Julie. ‘Ellis was offered a
Veo 722 since September 2009. place without a nurse – the school decided
‘Childcare issues have, ultimately, forced
forced me out of
they wanted to look after him themselves.
me out of work and onto benefits, all because The teaching assistant now takes care of his
my son needed a lunchtime injection,’
work and onto
medication, and is wonderful.’
says Julie. ‘Ellis was initially in a fantastic But Ellis’s early days in childcare have had a
nursery, but they could not do the lunchtime
benefits, all because
long-term effect on Julie and her family.
medication so he had to leave. I could not ‘At the time, we had asked the government
find a childminder to take him, and once I my son needed a to look at our case on its individual merits,’
mentioned in adverts for a nanny that he was says Julie. ‘But as they refused, I had no option
insulin-dependent, I got a very poor response.
lunchtime injection’
but to resign from my job, and now, I have to
‘Eventually, I thought I had found a solution present myself as actively looking for work
as my sister-in-law planned to leave her job to then they would not take responsibility.’ and attend getting-back-to-work interviews
look after Ellis – and obviously administer his The nursing care was duly organised, but every six months. Obviously though, I am
medication – at our house,’ Julie says. ‘But Julie soon discovered that if the nurse was restricted by school and term-time hours and
unfortunately, the Tax Credits system does not late or did not arrive at all, then Ellis was not so I don’t have anywhere near the earning
allow relatives to mind children in their own permitted to go into school. potential I once had, despite having retrained.
home, and logistically it was only feasible for ‘In the first half term they would not let ‘And now, although Ellis is in a fantastic
Ellis to be looked after at home – my sister- him through the door until the nurse turned school, he will be leaving to start juniors at the
in-law does not drive and unless she was at up,’ says Julie. ‘It was heartbreaking – he end of next July, and we don’t know where
our house, she would have been in entirely would be there in his uniform, all ready for a he is going and whether I will face the same
the wrong location for nursery and school. day at school and could see the other children problems as before. I have no guarantee at all
Ultimately, we were left with no choice but for going into class. He just wanted to be in there that care will be available and that he will be
me to give up work to care for him.’ with them.’ looked after.’ n
This impacted enormously on Julie and Eventually, Julie withdrew Ellis from the
her family – the benefits associated with her school. The nurse had been off six times, and
Find out more
job, such as savings schemes, pensions and on those six occasions, Ellis had not been
healthcare provisions were lost, and their allowed into class.
Children with Diabetes
standard of living was greatly reduced. ‘Ellis’s confidence was destroyed,’ says
www.childrenwithdiabetesuk.org
At four, Ellis started the local infant school. Julie. ‘In the end he begged not to go to
An online resource for families with
‘I approached the local authority for help with school at all and cried for me to take the
children who have diabetes.
his lunchtime injection but they said it was diabetes away from him.’
parental responsibility,’ says Julie. ‘With help Julie began approaching other schools,
National Childminding Association
from my MP I put up a 10-month fight for but having taken her story to the local papers,
www.ncma.org.uk
assistance. Eventually the PCT [primary care feared there was controversy surrounding her
0800 169 4486
trust] stepped in and said they would provide and her son. However, one headteacher who
Provides advice and information on
help, but they could only offer a nurse – the had read the stories was keen to meet her.
choosing and finding home-based
childcare with registered childminders
school then said that if Ellis needed a nurse ‘The attitude of that school was completely
or nannies.
Children with diabetes at school:
what all staff need to know
A leaflet providing advice and
information for teachers and other
staff who have a child with diabetes
in their school, available as a free
download from the Diabetes UK website
(www.diabetes.org.uk).
When a child with diabetes comes
to visit
An information sheet giving practical
advice for parents to give to relatives
and friends, available as a free
download from the Diabetes UK website
(www.diabetes.org.uk).
78 Sweet Magazine
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