Policy on supporting children who are unable to attend school because of medical/health needs

The aim of the draft policy is to provide clarity on the arrangements which will apply when a school pupil in Kent is not able to attend school for health/medical reasons. In particular, the policy provides information for the local authority, schools, parents and pupils to work in collaboration. This will ensure that all pupils have access to suitable education and receive appropriate support in light of their health/medical needs.

From 18 August 2024, the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance becomes statutory. Within the guidance, there is a requirement for schools to inform a local authority when a pupil is absent from school due to illness for 15 days or more (consistently or cumulatively throughout the academic year) or is due to be absent for 15 days due to illness. The guidance links closely with the statutory responsibility of local authorities and schools to provide alternative education arrangements as highlighted in the Department for Education (DfE) 2023 guidance ‘Arranging education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs’ guidance.

In the last academic year (2022-23), 21,000 pupils were absent from school due to illness for at least 15 days. The vast majority of these pupils will continue to receive a suitable education without intervention by KCC. However, in a minority of cases, it will be necessary for KCC to provide alternative education in accordance with its statutory responsibilities.

KCC commissions The Rosewood School (which has two sites - Maidstone and Canterbury), to provide up to 150 places for pupils who, due to their medical/health needs, cannot receive education in a mainstream setting. This includes pupils for whom KCC has a statutory responsibility to arrange alternative education. The arrangement with The Rosewood School will continue under the new policy.

Have your say

We are keen to hear your thoughts on this draft policy.

Please tell us what you think by completing the online questionnaire on this page. Alternatively, you can find the Word version in the Documents section which you can download and email to us (or print and post). If you are a young person (School Year 12 or under) wishing to take part, please use the Questionnaire for Young People in the Documents section.

What happens next?

After the consultation closes, feedback from the consultation, along with the Equality Impact Assessment, will be presented to the Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee in September 2024 before a decision is made by the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills.

We will publish a consultation report on this webpage, summarising the consultation responses. An email will also be sent to those who complete the online questionnaire and select that that they want to be kept informed of KCC consultations.