Access to Education Policy

Tanfield School is committed to providing an inclusive education which enables all children and young people to have access to as much education as their medical condition allows so they are able to maintain the momentum of their education and to keep up with their studies and attain maximum achievement.

• To implement the local authorities policy ‘Education of children and young people with health needs’
• To implement the Equality Act 2010.
• To work in partnership with children and young people/parents/carers to support medical needs during any period of absence and on return to school.
• To work in close liaison with Education / Health /other services and agencies involved with the child or young person.

• We will maintain responsibility for the education of children and young people with medical needs on our school roll.
• We will consult regularly with the children and young person / parents / carers and work in collaboration with them, acknowledging that young people have a right to be involved in making decisions and exercising choice.
• We will ensure that a child or young person on our school roll who is unable to attend school because of medical needs will have his/her needs identified and receive educational support quickly and effectively. Education is provided for the child or young persons who cannot attend school because of health needs where the child is expected to be away from school for 15 days or more, whether consecutive or cumulative.
• We will work closely with the Education Health Needs Team, hospital or other educational support services in order that a consistent, well-structured approach is taken to meet the identified medical needs of children and young people.
• We will regularly assess the needs of children and young people with long term medical needs to ensure that our support is appropriate and consider whether an assessment under the Code of Practice for children and young people with special educational needs is required.
• We will work in collaboration with the children and young people / parents / carers / other services and agencies to assist reintegration to our school.
• We will ensure arrangements for adequate monitoring and evaluation of our policy and procedures are in place.
• We will ensure that children and young people who are unable to attend school due to medical needs will continue to be included in the life of our school.

• A named teacher, Mrs Sarah Douglas, who has overall responsibility for children and young people with medical needs and who maintains a register of those children and young people identified as having medical needs. Attendance is monitored by our Attendance Officer Mrs Vicky Elliott.
• The delivery of provision for children and young people with health needs is carried out by the Education Health Needs (EHN) Team which is part of the Woodlands.

We will:

• have clear systems and appropriate procedures for monitoring children’s and young people’s absence with medical needs which are dependent upon those needs;
• ensure we regularly audit those with medical needs identifying those with long term illness, recurring chronic illness, and those who receive support from EHN;
• ensure registers show when a child or young person is, or ought to be, receiving support from EHN;
• provide sufficient and appropriate work for children / young people absent for less than 15 days;
• provide assessment and curriculum plans within 5 working days for the Education Health Needs Team and, where appropriate, the named tutor;
• contact the Education Health Needs Team and refer the child or young person where we anticipate the absence will be more than 15 days;
• initiate a planning meeting where the child or young person’s absence is anticipated to be more than 15 working days;
• retain responsibility for hosting regular review meetings to include children / young people, parents, carers, EHN, EHN tutors and other services and agencies:
• provide sufficient and appropriate work and resources for EHN tutors;
• facilitate access to Google Classroom, an On-line learning environment ;
• ensure the named teacher attends review meetings initiated by the LA;
• ensure children and young people have access to independent careers advice and guidance
• ensure access to work placement programmes where appropriate;
• ensure the named teacher liaises with the examinations officer so children / young people are entered for tests and exams, and that arrangements are made to sit them as an external candidate if necessary;
• ensure that the named teacher sends home information on school activities, parents/carers evenings, school plays/concerts etc, and facilitates contact where appropriate with school friends and members of the school staff – this may be achieved electronically.

At Tanfield School we are committed to supporting and including children / young people with medical needs and working in partnership with pupils / parents / carers / other services and agencies to ensure our pupils have a continuum of education whether at school / hospital or home.