Action request: Is your child’s school using best practice for sickle cell?
Professor Simon Dyson has authored a guide so that teachers will be better able to fulfil their legal duties in supporting children with sickle cell and thalassaemia at school. The guide can be downloaded here [pdf]
If you’re a parent or caregiver of a child with sickle cell or thalassaemia, we know you’ll want to be sure that your child is receiving the best possible support during the hours they are at school. Therefore, we’re asking for your help to make sure your child’s school is aware of the guide and using it. Can you spare a few minutes to get in touch with your child’s school and ask them if they’re using the guide? We’ve provided a sample letter below.
We’re interested to monitor whether or not schools are using the guide, so if you receive a response, please forward correspondence to Zoe Williams.
Dear [headteacher or SENCO’s name]
I am a parent of a child at your school. My child has sickle cell disease. [insert details of their illness if appropriate]
You will be aware that recent legislation (Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014) places a duty on schools and academies to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. Research has shown that schools struggle to support young people with sickle cell, but there is a solution.
Professor Simon Dyson has produced a guide for teachers: Guide to School Policy for Sickle Cell. A copy can be downloaded through the Sickle Cell Society’s website. Is the school aware of the guide? If so, is it using it? If not, please download a copy of the guide and ensure that my child’s teachers are aware of best practice.
Here is a link to download the guide: http://www.sicklecellsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dyson-School-policy-sickle-cell.pdf
Yours sincerely,
[your name]
