Campus & Legal / Resources

Knowledge Centre

Guides and articles on university, education and student legal issues.

Educational Provision

What If My Child Cannot Attend School Because of Illness?

Ask what suitable education will be arranged while attendance is not possible.

Explain the difficulty attending

Tell the school and local authority what has prevented attendance, for how long and what medical or other evidence is available. Record what education the child can currently access.

Ask about suitable provision

In England, local authorities have duties to arrange suitable education for compulsory school age children who would otherwise miss it because of illness, exclusion or other reasons. The particular arrangements depend on the child's needs and circumstances.

Review the plan

Ask who is responsible, what teaching will be available, how progress will be reviewed and what support is needed for a return. Keep correspondence and challenge long delays or provision that does not address the child's needs.