Every school will wish to support their children as best they can through a period of illness. Research has shown that a child’s education can be severely impacted by a prolonged absence from school and the subsequent social isolation this can incur. It is therefore vital that a student is kept in connection with their peers and their learning throughout a period of illness.
A child’s illness pre and post diagnosis can be a period of considerable strain for both the family and the young person. A school’s supportive approach during this time will ease the strain considerably, and also ensure that the child’s reintegration back to school is as smooth as possible. This supportive approach requires the school to:
Be informed – read the information from the DfE signposted below, our presentation and the NASEN guide. Ensure that medical information is ascertained and understood.
Be clear and communicative – assign a key member of staff who can liaise with the family through this time.
Be flexible – utilise government guidance on reasonable adjustments, the use of IHCP’s and part-time timetables as appropriate.
There are clear government guidelines and templates on supporting pupils with medical conditions provided on the DfE website:
There are also a range of organisations and websites who we would highly recommend as offering clear guidance on supporting pupils with medical needs. These include:
For information on how to ensure continuity of education for children who are too unwell to attend school as defined by their medical consultant please see:
