Hi - I am thinking about homeschooling my son. Well, actually I'd always thought about it, but then when he was diagnosed with T1, I worried he might feel isolated. However, it has been indicated to me that as he is on a pump, I will have to be there to do all his pump alterations, and that he will probably be statemented to provide him with a special needs assistant. Is this the usual practice? Does anyone else homeschool? Anyone in Cumbria or northern region? Thanks for your time.
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Homeschooling v. School
- Thread starter Blissfool
- Start Date
- Messages
- 5,940
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hi bliss - I homeschool my teenager but for diferent reasons than diabetes and I live in Cumbria! 
- BUT I am off away for a couple of days - if you can hang on until Monday PM me and we can have a chat if you like - only been doing it a few months but its going pretty well - it depends what you want from homeschool really
LL
- BUT I am off away for a couple of days - if you can hang on until Monday PM me and we can have a chat if you like - only been doing it a few months but its going pretty well - it depends what you want from homeschool really LL
If he's on a pump you should only need to be there at meal times or if an alarm sounds on his pump. Some schools will handle the lunch time bolus if they have been suitably trained. I don't believe he needs to be statemented because he has diabetes or a pump. Most T1 children at school do not have a statement.
I've considered homeschooling my children (before diabetes) but eventually took the decision that it wasn't the best option for us. Whether or not you homeschool is a personal decision for your family, but dont' let diabetes be the driving reason for it.
I've considered homeschooling my children (before diabetes) but eventually took the decision that it wasn't the best option for us. Whether or not you homeschool is a personal decision for your family, but dont' let diabetes be the driving reason for it.
squishychickfi
Well-Known Member
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- 115
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- Kent
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- Insulin
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- curry or anything spicy, snakes and mosquitos!
Hi I'm a teacher in a special needs school. We do have children with T1 in the school, but it is not due to their diabetes rather that they have additional learning needs.
If your son does get statemented then he would get the support, but that could be in a mainstream school.
I had considered homeschooling our son (Aspergers and ADHD) but then thought about all the other wonderful things he would miss out on. I think you have to be incredibly disciplined to homeschool and make sure you join a homeschooling group so that you can access all the curriculum. It would also mean that you son would then have access to friends within the group.
Obviously you have to decide what is better, but I would not rule out school because of the pump, we teachers and TA's are able to deal with things like that and would take great care of your child. I presume he is quite little as you said you would have to go in to do the pump?
You have to weigh it up carefully and look at the other schools in your area. You might be pleasantly surprised!
Hope it all works out for you.
If your son does get statemented then he would get the support, but that could be in a mainstream school.
I had considered homeschooling our son (Aspergers and ADHD) but then thought about all the other wonderful things he would miss out on. I think you have to be incredibly disciplined to homeschool and make sure you join a homeschooling group so that you can access all the curriculum. It would also mean that you son would then have access to friends within the group.
Obviously you have to decide what is better, but I would not rule out school because of the pump, we teachers and TA's are able to deal with things like that and would take great care of your child. I presume he is quite little as you said you would have to go in to do the pump?
You have to weigh it up carefully and look at the other schools in your area. You might be pleasantly surprised!
Hope it all works out for you.
It's a huge commitment and I know many do it successfully. However if a school are willing to go down the route of getting a statement for your son I would be tempted to at least try it to begin with. How old is he? School is a great way to feel like one of the crowd and make lots of friends. I too am a teacher in main stream schools and agree with the previous poster that he would miss out on so many wonderful things.
carty
Well-Known Member
Hi
I may start ww3 here but :!:
I taught my daughter at home(Home school is not a term I would use) she is 25 now and she says it is the best thing I ever did.The only thing she missed were nits ,swearing ,bullying etc.
CAROL
I may start ww3 here but :!:
I taught my daughter at home(Home school is not a term I would use) she is 25 now and she says it is the best thing I ever did.The only thing she missed were nits ,swearing ,bullying etc.
CAROL
Hi Bliss
I was a primary teacher for 13 years before I had my sons. Different education system up here in Scotland so a child with diabetes isn't statemented. Homeschooling in Scotland tends to be supervised by the education department in the local area and they provide educational materials. But having said that my sister's friend homeschools using a programme devised by a Christian organisation (can't remember the name) and she isn't checked as her children never attended anything run by the local council so her children don't appear on any register. She doesn't get any help from them either though. Homeschooling is a very personal choice and not one i would ever chose to take. It can work extremely well (my sister's friend) but I have seen the other less positive end of it where parents have not been committed enough.
My friend's wee girl has a pump and there are 2 members of staff in school trained to deal with this. She is 7 so checks her blood sugar herself under staff supervision. If there is any problem then staff phone a parent. They are lucky that the diabetes specialist nurse gives training and support to the school staff as well as parents.
Annette
I was a primary teacher for 13 years before I had my sons. Different education system up here in Scotland so a child with diabetes isn't statemented. Homeschooling in Scotland tends to be supervised by the education department in the local area and they provide educational materials. But having said that my sister's friend homeschools using a programme devised by a Christian organisation (can't remember the name) and she isn't checked as her children never attended anything run by the local council so her children don't appear on any register. She doesn't get any help from them either though. Homeschooling is a very personal choice and not one i would ever chose to take. It can work extremely well (my sister's friend) but I have seen the other less positive end of it where parents have not been committed enough.
My friend's wee girl has a pump and there are 2 members of staff in school trained to deal with this. She is 7 so checks her blood sugar herself under staff supervision. If there is any problem then staff phone a parent. They are lucky that the diabetes specialist nurse gives training and support to the school staff as well as parents.
Annette
