Suitable education is arranged for students on roll who cannot attend school due to health needs
Students, staff and parents understand what the school is responsible for when this education is being provided by the local authority

Co-op Academy Manchester aims to ensure that all children who are unable to attend school due to medical needs, and who would not receive suitable education without such provision, continue to have access to as much education as their medical condition allows, to enable them to reach their full potential.

Due to the nature of their health needs, some children may be admitted to hospital or placed in alternative forms of education provision. We recognise that, whenever possible, pupils should receive their education within their school and the aim of the provision will be to reintegrate pupils back into school as soon as they are well enough.

We understand that we have a continuing role in a pupil’s education whilst they are not in school and will work with the medical professionals, other key professionals such as social services and families to ensure that all children with medical needs receive the right level of support to enable them to maintain links with their education.

Legislation and guidance

This policy reflects the requirements of the Education Act 1996. Manchester City Council publishes a clear Section 19 Policy which explains the responsibilities of schools and Manchester local authority.

The responsibilities of the school

If the school makes arrangements

Initially, the school will attempt to make arrangements to deliver suitable education for children with health needs who cannot attend school.

The Principal and SENCo will be responsible for making and monitoring these arrangements. A meeting will be arranged with parents / carers to discuss arrangements for working from home or hospital. A plan will be drawn up detailing agreed actions from the discussion, the plan will be signed by school and parents / carers. The plan will then be carried out to deliver education to the child.

It must be stressed, in accordance with the academy’s attendance policy, National and statutory guidance that a part-time timetable will only ever be considered if this would be the only advisable course of action to support a child where they are medically unfit to attend school for anything other than a short period of time in the school day. This would be evidenced by medical professionals but the final decision for this course of action would be with the Principal. Where a part-time timetable is in place, it will be for a limited period of time and reviewed regularly to ensure that pupils are supported back into full-time education as quickly as possible.

If a child is too poorly to attend school, arrangements could include:

Setting work remotely on EdClass to ensure a pupil can still receive their attendance marks whilst being taught by a teacher remotely.
Setting work remotely via Google Classroom or sending paper-based work home, neither of which would allow pupils to get their statutory attendance marks.
Attending a hospital school, which would involve a referral from the academy and acceptance of a pupil being placed on roll by an admissions panel.
When they are able, the pupil will slowly reintegrate back into school. Special arrangements may be made to support the transition back into the academy such as alternative provision for break or lunch times, or a reduced timetable with time spent in our Pathways Centres or the Learning Support Hub. The decision as to when a pupil returns to school will be made by the Principal in conjunction with members of the academy’s pastoral team and relevant health professionals.

If the academy cannot make arrangements for the education of a child with health needs that cannot attend school, a Team Around the Child meeting will be convened by the school. All relevant professionals including social care and representatives from the Local Authority will be invited to attend and a plan put in place as a result.

The Governing Board and Principal are responsible for:

Ensuring arrangements for pupils who cannot attend school as a result of their medical needs are in place and are effectively implemented.
Ensuring the termly review of the arrangements made for pupils who cannot attend school due to their medical needs.
Ensuring the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the arrangements to support the needs of pupils are clear and understood by all.
Ensuring staff with responsibility for supporting pupils with health needs are appropriately trained.
Appointing a named member of staff who is responsible for pupils with healthcare needs and liaises with parents, pupils, the LA, key workers and others involved in the pupil’s care.
Providing teachers who support pupils with health needs with suitable information relating to a pupil’s health condition and the possible effect the condition and/or medication taken has on the pupil.
Notifying the LA when a pupil is likely to be away from the school for a significant period of time due to their health needs.

The SENCo is responsible for:

Making arrangements for pupils who are unable to attend school because of medical needs.
Actively monitoring pupil progress and reintegration into school.
Supplying pupils’ education providers with information about the child’s capabilities, progress and outcomes.
Liaising with the principal, education providers and parents to determine pupils’ programmes of study whilst they are absent from school.

Teachers and Pastoral, Attendance and SEND Staff are responsible for:

Understanding confidentiality in respect of pupils’ health needs.
Designing lessons and activities in a way that allows those with health needs to participate fully and ensuring pupils are not excluded from activities that they wish to take part in without a clear evidence-based reason.
Understanding their role in supporting pupils with health needs and ensuring they attend the required training.
Ensuring they are aware of the needs of their pupils through the appropriate and lawful sharing of the individual pupil’s health needs.
Ensuring they are aware of the signs, symptoms and triggers of common life-threatening medical conditions and know what to do in an emergency. Keeping parents informed of how their child’s health needs are affecting them whilst in the school.

If the local authority makes arrangements

If the school can’t make suitable arrangements, Manchester Local Authority will become responsible for arranging suitable education for these children.

In cases where the local authority makes arrangements, the school will:

Work constructively with the local authority, providers, relevant agencies and parents to ensure the best outcomes for the student
Share information with the local authority and relevant health services as required
Help make sure that the provision offered to the student is as effective as possible and that the child can be reintegrated back into school successfully
When reintegration is anticipated, work with the local authority to:

Plan for consistent provision during and after the period of education outside the school, allowing the student to access the same curriculum and materials that they would have used in school as far as possible
Enable the student to stay in touch with school life (e.g. through newsletters, emails, invitations to school events or internet links to lessons from their school)
Create individually tailored reintegration plans for each child returning to school
Consider whether any reasonable adjustments need to be made

Monitoring arrangements

This policy will be reviewed annually by the SENCO. At every review, it will be approved by the full governing board.

Links to other policies

This policy links to the following policies: