Health services for children and young people

Supporting Children with Medical Needs in School

On 1 September 2014, a new duty came into force for governing bodies of schools to make arrangements to support pupils at school with medical conditions. This might include conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy or medical conditions that mean that children need support with their toileting. 

The legislation states that:

Pupils at school with medical conditions should be properly supported so that they have full access to education, including school trips and physical education.

Governing bodies must ensure that arrangements are in place in schools to support pupils at school with medical conditions.

Governing bodies should ensure that school leaders consult health and social care professionals, pupils and parents to ensure that the needs of children with medical conditions are effectively supported.

You and your child may be worried about attending school if they have a complex medical condition. When you speak to your child’s school, you can ask them who has the responsibility for ensuring your child’s medical needs are met. This may be the school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator.

You can ask:

Who is responsible for ensuring that staff are suitably trained? This might be the school nurse or specialist nurse from your child’s hospital

How are staff in school will be made aware of your child’s condition? This is likely to be through sharing of a health care plan and training to staff. It should include conversations with yourself and your child

Who will ensure cover arrangements in case of staff absence to make sure someone is always available? Check that you know who will be aware of your child’s needs if their teacher is away

How will trips and holidays, and after school activities be risk assessed? The school will be able to tell you how staff who are less familiar with your child will be trained

Who will monitoring the individual healthcare plans? This is likely to be the trained school staff in consultation with the school nursing team

If you and your child's school are worried about how to meet your child's needs, they should first approach the school nursing team for advice. Your school's SENCO will be able to contact the school nursing team. You can find out more information on our School Nursing page

You can read more about meeting the needs of children with medical needs in school on the government website