How to review your policy on children with health needs who can't attend school

See what senior leaders should include in this policy and what questions you can ask them, so you can confidently review it. Take a look at our model policy, and school and trust examples, to get an idea of what yours might look like.

Last reviewed on 30 January 2024
Ref: 38467
Statutory/mandatory for:
Maintained schools
Academies
Free schools
Independent schools
Contents
  1. Key facts
  2. What this policy needs to do
  3. 4 key questions to challenge the policy
  4. Model policy
  5. See examples from schools

What this policy needs to do

It should reflect:

It's not your job to cross-reference your policy with this guidance, but you should expect your senior leaders to have done so.

While there are no requirements in terms of what this policy should include, you'll want to make sure it sets out: 

  • Your school’s responsibilities
  • Your LA’s responsibilities
  • How your school will work with your LA, including when the pupil is to be reintegrated

It could also include details on:

  • What sort of arrangements your school can make, and how your leaders will consult parents and pupils about these arrangements
  • How your school will reintegrate pupils back into their school
  • How and when your LA would take over responsibility, including how many days the child would need to be absent from school, and the process for referring a child to the LA