Statutory guidance

Education for children with health needs who cannot attend school

How local authorities must meet their duty to ensure children with health needs receive a good education.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 17 May 2013
• Last updated: 14 December 2023
  Show all updates

  1. 14 December 2023

     Updated 'Ensuring a good education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs' to reflect changes to related policies, including behaviour in schools, and school suspensions and permanent exclusions. There are no changes to the section 19 legislation or alternative provision policy.

  2. 17 May 2013

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Arranging education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs

PDF, 311 KB, 18 pages

Details

This statutory guidance is for local authorities.

It will also be of interest to:

• all types of schools
• providers of alternative provision
• providers of health services
• parents and carers

It explains what local authorities and others need to do to ensure that children who are too ill to attend school get a good education.

This guidance applies to children:

• of compulsory school age
• who are on a school roll or not
• who cannot attend school or can attend intermittently

This guidance covers:

• when and how to provide support
• medical evidence
• hospital education
• exams
• working with other services
• reintegration into school
• raising concerns about children’s provision

Separate guidance for pupils with medical conditions who can be supported at school is available.