Remember break time at school? When you used to queue up for that free carton of milk and those out-of date biscuits? You know that after your snack you were forbidden to munch anything else until lunch time, and even then you had to face that breaded school dinner. If you were caught smuggling in a packet of crisps or a bar of chocolate you would face a telling off and worse still a trip to the Headmasters' office.

That is exactly what happened to nine year old Hannah Godly. Hannah is a pupil at Kent's Poverest Primary School. Back in December 2002 the school introduced a 'fruit snack only' policy which caused a problem for Hannah, who was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 4. She needed to crunch her way through a packet of crisps each morning to keep tabs on her required dietary needs, because of the fruit policy she was taken to the Headmaster's office on a daily basis permitting her not to eat her snack in front of her schoolmates. The ridiculous rule caused the girl a lot of distress and discomfort, it also made her feel that is was her fault.

Hannah's parents contacted the Disability Rights Commission who stood by the Godly family and at a tribunal in September the school was ordered school to apoligise.

Mr. Godly said, "We're pleased that at last the school has apologised to
Hannah. She was very upset and distressed by the whole situation. She was made to feel that she had done something wrong. Hannah does very well in managing her diabetes and shouldn't be made to feel as though she has to be kept apart because of it."

DRC's Liz Sayce added, "Hannah's case give a clear message to all schools - children with health problems need a bit of flexibility so they can join in all school activities without being made to feel like pariahs. A healthy eating
policy is to be commended, but it must be flexible so that children who need to eat different foods for medical reasons aren't left out".

Just to add a bit of 'flavor' to this story we phoned the school, but unfortunately every question we asked they responded 'Sorry, we can not discuss this' and were asked to call back at a later and speak to the Headmistress. Although we didn't want to stay late at the office and had our homework to complete.

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