I FEEL compelled to reply to Jan Alcock's comments that "teachers have enough to do without being expected to be paramedics as well " (Letters, October 25).

I am a teacher as well as being the mother of an 11-year-old boy who was diagnosed with diabetes seven months ago.

His primary school staff accepted medical advice and were so supportive. They did not exclude him from school trips.

However, the issue with Clitheroe Grammar School is their apparent ignorance of diabetes, their unwillingness to accept advice and support, which has promoted them to ban a diabetic pupil from future school trips.

It is a reality that many more children may need a high level of care in school or on trips because of their medical needs and should have caring, supportive, well-informed teachers.

If the Clitheroe Grammar School pupil did not manage his diabetes very well, as Ms Alcock implies, then I'm sure his parents would not have let the school take responsibility for him.

They, like myself, would not expect teachers to be paramedics -- just to provide the level of care that any parent has the right to expect.

I am pleased that Ms Alcock thinks we teachers have enough responsibility on school trips.

After all, it is the parents who are trusting us to take care of their children away from home and we have to meet that responsibility.

ANNE STANLEY (Mrs), Minster Crecent, Darwen.