Ensuring education for children with health needs
Invisible and often overlooked, children whose health conditions prevent regular school attendance require better support.
The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the significant impact of interrupted education. However, there exists a group of students for whom such disruption is a regular occurrence.
National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE)
The National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE) advocates for those working in hospital schools, tier 4 child and adolescent mental health units, medical alternative provisions, and home tuition services. The children and young people they support face temporary or permanent educational disadvantages due to illness or other medical and mental health conditions. Their mission is to promote collaboration to ensure exceptional educational standards for these students.
Surprisingly, the exact number of these children remains unknown, with gaps in data on how many children are receiving education in hospitals or are unable to attend mainstream schools due to health issues.
Compounding the problem, the current attendance codes do not facilitate the collection of this information. Consequently, these children remain 'hidden' and often forgotten because they do not pose immediate issues within their schools or communities.
These children represent one of the most vulnerable groups within the educational system.
National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE) Policy Recommendations
The NAHE’s policy recommendations for the next government align with broader goals for supporting vulnerable children. They believe that despite their unique needs, several specific measures would greatly enhance these children’s educational experience. The NAHE believes that to improve educational outcomes and standards for all students, the next government should consider the following six policies, which promise quick and effective results for such learners.
- Dedicated Learning Spaces: Invest in high-quality environments to support pupil wellbeing, learning, and progress. Collaborate with NHS trusts to ensure hospitals are equipped with suitable learning spaces.
- Enhanced Digital Access: Provide pupils with equal, if not superior, access to educational technology to keep pace with their learning and acquire necessary digital skills for the future.
- Flexible Attendance Policies: Recognise that many of the pupils in hospital desire to attend school but cannot. Attendance policies should be flexible, and strategies should aim to engage and encourage these students.
- Robust Health Service Support: Increase investment in therapeutic health services and specialised therapeutic interventions to ensure children receive timely support, minimizing the impact of their health issues on education.
- Integrated Multiagency Teams: Establish multiagency teams within medical alternative provisions to enable comprehensive and collaborative planning centred around the child’s needs.
- Equitable Educational Support: Eliminate the postcode lottery by standardising the educational support available to sick children, regardless of their location. Some areas provide up to 25 hours of education in dedicated spaces, while others offer minimal online tuition. A fair funding formula is essential to guarantee every child receives a high-quality education when they cannot attend school due to health reasons.
Children under our care have the same dreams and aspirations as their peers. Like those who lost learning opportunities during the COVID lockdowns, they have not chosen to face educational disruptions.
The NAHE is urging HM Government to prioritise a cohort for whom educational interruptions are commonplace. They believe that establishing equal educational opportunities for children with medical and mental health challenges is not too much to ask.
SSS Learning Safeguarding Director
