Support for children with diabetes at school
A child with type 1 diabetes has a lot of responsibility to bear in their everyday school life – often more than a school day should really entail. We want to ensure that your child is not left to cope alone, but has reliable support by their side. As much support as necessary, as little as possible.
How type 1 diabetes manifests itself in everyday school life
Diabetes is a constant presence in the classroom – even when you can’t see it.
- Keeping an eye on blood sugar: levels fluctuate throughout the day, and your child has to assess their condition time and again – sometimes right in the middle of a lesson.
- Recognising low and high blood sugar early: Trembling, loss of concentration, tiredness or irritability can be early signs that are easily overlooked in class.
- Planning for meals and PE: Pupil lunches, school trips and PE lessons require planning – exercise and food have a direct impact on blood sugar levels.
- Stay calm in emergencies: If hypoglycaemia occurs, your child needs someone who stays calm, knows the agreed steps to take and exudes confidence.
- Inclusion without a special role: Your child wants to fit in – not to stand out as ‘the child with diabetes’, but to take part just like everyone else.
How our support helps
We create a reliable framework within which your child can take part in everyday school life safely and independently.
- Reliable daily structure: We help keep track of meals, testing times and breaks so that the day remains predictable → structure.
- Attentive monitoring: We watch out for signs of low or high blood sugar and remind your child of the agreed steps to take, so that nothing is overlooked.
- Staying calm in an emergency: Following the plans agreed with you and the school, we calmly guide your child through critical moments and reliably seek help.
- Promoting inclusion: We ensure that your child can take part in sports, school trips and lessons – without being treated as an exception.
- Independence as a goal: We withdraw our support as soon as your child no longer needs it.
Important – Distinction from medical care: Insulin administration and blood glucose monitoring are medical procedures. Depending on the provider and federal state, these require qualified (specialist) nursing care or specific training, or authorisation from parents and doctors. School support assists with structure, monitoring and participation, and does not replace specialist care. We will clarify what can be provided in each individual case together with you, the school and the treating doctors – honestly and transparently.
Legal basis & application
An application for a school support worker to ensure participation is usually made to the social services office as integration assistance (Section 112 of Book IX of the Social Code). If the requirement relates exclusively to medical treatment – such as insulin administration or blood glucose monitoring by qualified staff – the health insurance fund may be responsible, depending on the circumstances (Section 37 of Book IX of the Social Code). The distinction must be clarified on a case-by-case basis; we’d be happy to help you find the right approach and guide you through the process.
Qualifications of our support workers
Our support workers undergo a multi-stage selection process and are trained at our own Splash Academy. Before they are assigned to a child with diabetes, we provide them with targeted training in recognising symptoms, remaining calm in emergency situations and working closely with parents and the school. This ensures support that provides reassurance without encroaching on specialist nursing duties.
Frequently asked questions
Is the school support worker allowed to administer insulin or measure blood sugar levels?
These are medical procedures which, depending on the provider and federal state, require qualified (specialist) nursing care or specific training and authorisation from parents and doctors. School support focuses on structure, observation and participation, and does not replace specialist nursing care. We will clarify what is possible in each specific case together with you, the school and the treating doctors.
Who covers the costs?
The social services department is usually responsible for school support aimed at ensuring participation under the integration assistance scheme (Section 112 of Book IX of the Social Code). In the case of purely medical treatment, the health insurance fund may be responsible (Section 37 of Book V of the Social Code). The distinction is made on a case-by-case basis.
How do you help my child in an emergency?
We support your child calmly and level-headedly in accordance with the plans previously agreed with you and the school, remind them of the agreed steps and reliably seek help. Safety and clarity are our top priorities.
Will my child stand out in class because of the support they receive?
Our aim is inclusion without your child being singled out. We work as discreetly as possible so that your child can participate as normal and the support does not take centre stage.
What happens during PE lessons and school trips?
We take physical activity, meals and the daily routine into account so that your child can take part in sports and school trips too. We coordinate the practical arrangements closely with you.
Let’s talk about your child
In a free initial consultation, we’ll discuss your child’s needs, the application process and the next steps – with no obligation.
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Our own Splash Academy · Multi-stage selection process · Support at mainstream and special schools
This page is for information purposes only and does not replace medical or legal advice. The decision as to whether school support is suitable and eligible for funding is made by the relevant funding body on a case-by-case basis.