To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) whether pupils who require a smartphone to operate medically necessary diabetes technology should be permitted to keep that device on their person during the school day; and (ii) any guidance issued to schools on related alarms, monitoring, and emergency intervention.

Pupil health and safety must remain paramount and any restrictions on smartphone use should not prevent a child from accessing vital medical support.

(i) Schools are expected to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that pupils who require a smartphone in order to operate medically necessary diabetes management technology, such as continuous glucose monitoring systems or insulin pumps, including during lessons and examinations, where it is required for medical purposes. This includes recognising that certain medical devices rely on smartphone applications to provide realtime monitoring, alerts and alerts to potential medical emergencies.

DE Guidance for Schools on Pupils’ Personal Use of Mobile Phones and other Similar Devices During the School Day Circular 2024-14 - Use of Personal Mobile Phones.pdf is clear that there will always need to be exceptions made for a number of reasons, including medical reasons.

ii) Education settings in Northern Ireland have a responsibility to follow the “Supporting pupils with Medication Needs” guidance and make reasonable adjustments to ensure that pupils’ medical needs, including in relation to diabetes, are met.

Where a pupil has an individual healthcare plan, supported by healthcare professionals and agreed with parents and school, this will detail the measures needed to support a pupil in school, identify any specific training required to support these medical needs including preparing for an emergency situation.