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This accessible book is packed with information and strategies that will build your confidence in ensuring that children and young people with medical needs have equal access to education and can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Including Learners with Medical Needs in School provides school staff with a guide for best practice in supporting learners with complex health conditions in their schools. The book includes:
By implementing the recommendations in this book, schools can make a commitment to inclusion and make a real difference to the educational experience of children with medical needs. It is essential reading for SENCOs, pastoral leads, and senior leaders, as well as a useful resource for school governors and school nurses.
Chapter 1: Introduction: the purpose of this book and how you might use it - Cath Kitchen
Section 1: The Legal Bit
Chapter 2: The Legal Requirements - Cath Kitchen
Chapter 3: Individual Healthcare Plans - Cath Kitchen
Chapter 4: Local Authority Responsibilities - Cath Kitchen
Section 2: Best Practice examples of how to include children with medical needs in your school
Chapter 5: Checking for dragons and potholes: creating a welcoming environment for learners with medical conditions - Tara Bell
Chapter 6: Promoting and support attendance - Dr Simon Pinin, Dr Victoria Hopwood
Chapter 7: The psychological impact of attending school with a medical condition - Dr Helen Griffiths
Chapter 8: The wider curriculum for learners with medical conditions - James Gibson
Chapter 9: The use of telepresence solutions - Cath Kitchen, Penny White
Chapter 10: Working with your local hospital school/medical alternative provision - Janet Doherty, Joanna Beswick. Emma Cunha, Gwen Rees-Moffat
Chapter 11: Hidden in plain sight: Best practice for support learners with an acquired brain injury - Dr Emily Bennett, Dr Gemma Costello
Chapter 12: Managing medication in educational settings - Nirusha Govender
Chapter 13: Best practice in supporting reintegration to school following a period of absence - Victoria Howard, James Shryane
Section 3: Working with hospital settings
Chapter 14: Supporting learners in paediatric hospitals - Jayne Franklin
Chapter 15: Supporting learners in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Units - Karen Ingham, Lorraine Coady
Section 4: Next Steps
Chapter 16: Children’s Health Charities that can provide advice, support and resources - Cath Kitchen, Daniella Rotimi, Tracey Dunn, Rajwant Kaur Singh, Sammie McFarland, Chelsea Wong, Tina Coope, Catherine Hodder, Marina Marinho, Michelle Allen
Chapter 17: The Medical Needs in Schools Project - Steve Lowe
Resources (available online)
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 16
"Including Learners with Medical Needs in School is an excellent book that fills a crucial gap in education resources. Written in an easy-to-read style by a range of experts with significant knowledge and first-hand experience, it is packed with information, strategies, case studies, points for reflection and practical resources. I think this is an essential read for anyone committed to ensuring that children with medical needs flourish at school. Highly recommended!"
- Natalie Packer, SEND Consultant and Director, NPEC Ltd
"The strength of Including Learners with Medical Needs in School lies not only in the expertise of its contributors but also in its accessible and easy to understand format. Each chapter provides practical strategies for supporting children with medical needs, covering everything from reintegration after illness, traumatic brain injuries to medication management and telepresence solutions. The book is designed to dip into as needed, making it a valuable, flexible resource for those busy in schools. Don’t wait until you need this book, buy it to help create an inclusive school community by design."
- Sarah Johnson, President of PRUsAP, director of Phoenix Education Consultancy
"This book is an excellent resource written by a range of professionals who have ‘lived’ experience of supporting children and young people with a range of medical and mental health needs. Throughout the book, alongside the legal responsibilities of who should do what, there are case studies which demonstrate how schools can put into practice outstanding support to ensure that their pupils feel ‘wanted’. The area of education for pupils with medical needs is often misunderstood but this book provides clarity, and on reading and following the guidance all schools should feel better placed to support these children and young people. After all, most of them have one wish – not to be treated differently and to feel included alongside their peers."
- Janice Cahill OBE, Independent Consultant
"This book is a must read for those working in education to understand the strategic and practical ways to support individuals with medical needs. This idea of it being a 'dip in ' book is exactly what busy SENDCOs need."
- Ginny Bootman, Special Needs and Relationship Specialist, SENDCO, Keynote Speaker and Author of Independent Thinking On Being A SENDCO
"I see so many schools that are rethinking their approach to children with medical needs. This is a timely resource that will give leaders confidence rooted in serious expertise to develop the culture of belonging in school. A well-researched book full of practical advice across all the essential areas – legal frameworks, medication support, injury recovery, psychological support, technology, curriculum approaches – to facilitate equitable planning and successful inclusion."
- Margaret Mulholland, SEND and Inclusion Specialist, Association of School and College Leaders
"Including Learners with Medical Needs in School is an excellent book that fills a crucial gap in education resources. Written in an easy-to-read style by a range of experts with significant knowledge and first-hand experience, it is packed with information, strategies, case studies, points for reflection and practical resources. I think this is an essential read for anyone committed to ensuring that children with medical needs flourish at school. Highly recommended!"
- Natalie Packer, SEND Consultant and Director, NPEC Ltd
"The strength of Including Learners with Medical Needs in School lies not only in the expertise of its contributors but also in its accessible and easy to understand format. Each chapter provides practical strategies for supporting children with medical needs, covering everything from reintegration after illness, traumatic brain injuries to medication management and telepresence solutions. The book is designed to dip into as needed, making it a valuable, flexible resource for those busy in schools. Don’t wait until you need this book, buy it to help create an inclusive school community by design."
- Sarah Johnson, President of PRUsAP, director of Phoenix Education Consultancy
"This book is an excellent resource written by a range of professionals who have ‘lived’ experience of supporting children and young people with a range of medical and mental health needs. Throughout the book, alongside the legal responsibilities of who should do what, there are case studies which demonstrate how schools can put into practice outstanding support to ensure that their pupils feel ‘wanted’. The area of education for pupils with medical needs is often misunderstood but this book provides clarity, and on reading and following the guidance all schools should feel better placed to support these children and young people. After all, most of them have one wish – not to be treated differently and to feel included alongside their peers."
- Janice Cahill OBE, Independent Consultant
"This book is a must read for those working in education to understand the strategic and practical ways to support individuals with medical needs. This idea of it being a 'dip in ' book is exactly what busy SENDCOs need."
- Ginny Bootman, Special Needs and Relationship Specialist, SENDCO, Keynote Speaker and Author of Independent Thinking On Being A SENDCO
"I see so many schools that are rethinking their approach to children with medical needs. This is a timely resource that will give leaders confidence rooted in serious expertise to develop the culture of belonging in school. A well-researched book full of practical advice across all the essential areas – legal frameworks, medication support, injury recovery, psychological support, technology, curriculum approaches – to facilitate equitable planning and successful inclusion."
- Margaret Mulholland, SEND and Inclusion Specialist, Association of School and College Leaders
