Access to Education for children and young people with Medical needs

The primary aim of educating children and young people who have medical needs is to minimise, as far as possible, the disruption to normal schooling by continuing education as normally as the incapacity allows.

The document has been written for Local Authorities, schools, hospital and home teaching services, hospital and health trust managers, chief executives, primary care trusts, and social service departments.

This guidance applies equally to all those pupils who are unable to attend school because of medical needs, both those who are physically ill or injured and those with mental health problems. Particular care is needed to ensure that there is adequate provision for pupils suffering from mental illness.

There are sections on teaching within hospitals, mental health units and pupil referral units and the provision of home tutors. There is also an appendix giving examples of Local Authority policy.