Medical Education - Trafford children who cannot attend school for health reasons

Trafford has a duty to arrange education for children of compulsory school age who cannot attend school for health reasons. The Medical Education Service can provide interim education for a child whose absence is due to health reasons whilst they are unable to acccess their full curriculum from their school. A referral is usually made when a child has missed 15 days of schooling and is under the care of a medical Consultant who will confirm if the child is not able to access their education in the usual manner. Sometimes a child will be referred before 15 days have elapsed - for example in the case of planned surgery. The 15 days isn't always consecutive and some children may have a recurring illness which requires a different approach during episodes of illness.

 As each case is considered on its own merits, a Panel of education, health and social care professionals meets monthly during term time to consider appropriate advice, guidance and support for cases which may sit just outside the above criteria. The Panel also advise on all pupils who are ready to exit any specialist medical provision and transition back into school. The Schools Medical Officer sitting on the Panel, may be called upon where medical reasons are believed to be valid, but Consultant agreement is not available.

Trafford Alternative Education Provision (TAEP) is commissioned to deliver on-site education or Home Tuition as appropriate for pupils who can't attend school for health reasons. Pupils are dual registered, with their current school coded as Main (M) on the admissions register, and Trafford Alternative Education Provision coded as Subsidiary (S).  Schools and parents/carers should contact TAEP regarding pupils who are registered with TAEP.

Our priority is for the well-being of the pupil. Removing pupils from their peer support and familiar environment can sometimes impact negatively on outcomes and, once in a small environment, some pupils find it very hard to transition back to mainstream education. Panel will consider carefully whether removing a child from school for a short period is the best option for the child, or whether there are other sources of support which may enable the pupil to continue their education with adjustments. There are many factors involved, including the nature of the illness and the age of the child.

The Pandemic meant that Home Tuition had to be paused, but the implementation of remote Learning meant that many pupils were able to continue their education with their school and did not need to be referred to TAEP. This has opened up some more flexible solutions now that schools are fully open and has helped to sustain not only a pupil's learning, but also to maintain their relationships and supported their reovery. We now have a small number of AV1's available to support schools to deliver classroom education remotely for short to medium term periods for pupils who cannot physically access the school.

There will always be a small number of pupils, where the nature of their illness will mean that they will need a short time away from their school as they start to recover or will need TAEP support to put a blended Package of education in place to support the pupil.

Where a pupil doesn't meet the criteria for medical education provision, or where there is a more suitable existing pathway, the referrer will be informed and advice, guidance or links to other agencies may be given.

The Virtual Mental Wealth Hub and the SEND Local Offer pages on this site may both be useful sources of advice.

Intermittent/recurring health issues

Where a pupil has a recurring health issue which may flare up, or a series of treatments/surgeries, which interrupts their ability to physically access school, this should be clearly outlined in the pupil's Individual Health Care Plan. The plan should include the details of when this may happen and how it may impact the education, plus all reasonable adjustments the school will offer.  Where the child is still unable to access their education this should be referred to Medical Education Panel in the first instance where an AV1 may be offered, and in some  circumstances where health needs dictate, a place in the Medical Education Centre. An action plan can be agreed by Medical Education Panel and included in the IHP to cover subsequent flare ups or treatments. In these situations the school would only need to send the IHP updated with the most recent information to the Medical Education inbox and not have to wait for the next Panel to initiate the education support.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Medical Education Panel
E-mail

Where to go

Notes

Trafford Alternative Education Provision is situated on Brentwood Avenue in Timperley and is close to the Metrolink.

Time / Date Details

When is it on
Panel meets monthly during term time

Who is it for?

Ages
  • 5-16 years
Eligibility Details

This service is only available to children who are resident in Trafford and are unable to access education via their school for health reasons. If the child is on roll at a school, we would expect:

  • schools to have followed the guidance for children who can't attend school due to health reasons,
  • the pupil to have a detailed Individual Health Care Plan which clearly outlines the medical reasons and advice from a relevant Consultant; all the reasonable adjustments made by school to support the education via school; pupil/parent voice and short and longer term ambitions for the child's education.

 As each case is considered on its own merits, a Panel of education, health and social care professionals meets monthly during term time to consider appropriate advice, guidance and support for cases which may sit just outside the above criteria. The Panel also advise on all pupils who are ready to exit any specialist medical provision and transition back into school. The Schools Medical Officer sitting on the Panel, may be called upon where medical reasons are believed to be valid, but Consultant agreement is not available.

The school or officer who refers the pupil will be notified by e-mail and a follow up call from the Medical Education Service or health professional if appropriate.

Please refer to the relevant Local Authority webpage for children who attend Trafford schools, but live in a different Local Authority.

 

 

 

Accessibility

Details

Panel meets online.

Trafford Alternative Education Provision is a single story school building with disabled access.

Costs

Details
no cost

Availability

Referral Required?
Yes
Referral Details

Referrals can only be made by the child's school; the Elective Home Education Officer; or, the Children Missing Education Officer and must have parental consent for information to be shared. Panel will feed back to the school who will then liaise with the parents.

Please complete the cover sheet and attach the required documents and evidence of Parental Consent. An Individual Health Care Plan pro-forma is attached, but schools may use their own version, ensuring all of the required information is complete.

Parental permission must be evidenced and all documents must be e-mailed securely to medical.education @trafford.gov.uk

A referral should be accompanied by

  1. The child’s Individual Healthcare Plan 
  2. Attendance certificate (if on roll at a school)
  3. Relevant information from the Consultant
  4. Medical Education Coversheet
  5. The EBSNA toolkit where absence is due to emotion health and well being concerns.
  6. Parental consent for Panel to discuss.

Complete referrals should be e-mailed to medical.education@trafford.gov.uk .

 

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