Supporting pupils with medical needs: asthma, diabetes and epilepsy

By the end of this course, you'll be able to:

• Recognise how asthma, diabetes and epilepsy may present in school, including common symptoms and warning signs
• Understand how these conditions can affect pupils’ learning, behaviour and participation in school life
• Support pupils to take part safely and inclusively in lessons, trips and wider school life
• Use a pupil’s individual healthcare plan (IHP) to prepare and make adjustments or adaptations
• Respond appropriately when a pupil needs support, including urgent care

What's statutory?

This course is fully in line with the DfE's guidance on Support pupils with medical conditions at school. The DfE recently consulted on proposed new guidance for supporting pupils with medical needs. We'll update this course once the new guidance is published.

Who is this course for?

This course builds on our 'Supporting pupils with medical needs’ course. If you haven’t taken that course yet, we recommend starting there before completing this elearning, which focuses specifically on supporting pupils with asthma, diabetes and epilepsy.

This course is for classroom staff and other school staff who work regularly with pupils, including those involved in school-led activities such as trips or residentials.

It provides general awareness training to help you understand these conditions and support pupils safely during the school day. It does not replace first aid, emergency response or specialist medical training.

Please note: this course does not cover allergy awareness. To learn more about supporting pupils with allergies, take our Allergies and anaphylaxis for school staff course.

With thanks to the following experts and charities for their help with this course:

Asthma + Lung UK

BeatAsthma and Dr Jen Townshend, editor of BeatAsthma and BeatAnaphylaxis

Diabetes UK

Young Epilepsy