Supporting children and young people with medical needs who are unable to attend school
When children and young people are unable to attend school due to illness, Section 19 of the Education Act 1966 requires local education authorities to provide ‘suitable education’. This applies to children and young people who cannot attend their own school for an extended period because of their illness.
In Warwickshire this provision is made in three ways which form a continuum of provision.
- Hospital teaching – This service is usually provided by hospitals outside Warwickshire. Warwickshire is then recharged for this provision.
- Teaching at home or in small community settings (not Elective Home Education) – for children and young people who, because of their health need, are unable to attend the school setting. This service can be provided by the Flexible Learning Team.
- Support for reintegration to school for children and young people who are recovering from illness, and it has been agreed by the appropriate agencies that they are unable to attend school full-time.This support will be planned in partnership with the school. It will be phased, monitored and, in the interest of achieving a successful reintegration, time limited. This service can be provided by the LA services including the Specialist Teaching Service, Integrated Disability Service and/or the Flexible Learning Team.