When children and young people are unable to attend school due to medical reasons, there is support available to enable the student to continue to receive education, either within school or in the home or hospital environment, as appropriate.
Home and hospital tuition service
Whilst the student’s medical condition (mental and/or physical health) prevents them from attending school, our nurturing and supportive environment provides short-term bespoke education, led by qualified teachers. The tuition can take place in one of our tuition centres, virtually or in exceptional circumstances, in the home. We work with the child, family and other agencies to support the student’s reintegration back into the mainstream school or alternative setting.
Who can get support
Pupils from reception to Year 11 are eligible for support from this service if they are resident in Bromley and:
- Have a medical letter requesting support from the home and hospital service as part of a medical care plan, stating that the child is unable to attend school (the letter cannot be from a GP and must come from a medical team currently working with the child).
- Are awaiting appropriate provision of education in mainstream or in special needs schools or alternative provision with an Education, Health and care plan (EHCP).
Referral
Referral to the home and hospital tuition service can be made by a child’s school or another professional currently caring for the child, with agreement from parents/carers. If referral is successful the referring agency and family will be contacted.
Parents/carers should contact their schools SENCo, inclusion manager or lead behaviour professional at the school where their child is on roll in the first instance.
Details
- Tuition is delivered at The Link or Castlecome youth centres. In exceptional circumstances, tuition can also take place at home. This can either be delivered by tutor or via online learning.
- If referral is accepted, and with agreement of all parties, we offer a standard six hours per week to every child. However, the amount of tuition and how it can be accessed is assessed on an individual basis taking into consideration the medical needs of the child, and advice from the medical team.
- Liaison with schools is maintained where a child is on roll so that continuity of learning is maintained.
- Children admitted to the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRU) can receive support from a qualified teacher and teaching assistant, either in the hospital classroom or at their bedside. Access to education is guided by medical staff.
Health needs child specific funding in schools (HNCSFS)
Many children and young people with medical needs (sometimes linked to physical needs) are able to access education within mainstream schools with support, and the Department for Education has provided guidance for supporting pupils at school with medical conditions outlining a school’s responsibility to do this. Health needs child specific funding provides support to schools to enable children with medical needs to access learning and the wider school environment within their chosen mainstream school.
Further advice and information for schools can be found on the Bromley Education Matters website.
Parents/carers wishing to seek further advice regarding support for their child’s health needs in school, should contact the child or young person’s school inclusion team or SENCo in the first instance.