All schools should have a medical conditions policy which states how the school will care for any child or young person with medical conditions, the procedures for getting the right care and training in place and who is responsible for making sure the policy is carried out. Schools should ensure that children or young people with medical conditions have as normal an education as possible, including access to school trips and PE if appropriate. You can read the government guidance here Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school - GOV.UK
Children, young people and their families should be fully involved in the arrangements made about their support needs and arrangements.
Schools must also publish a SEN Information Report explaining how they identify and support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Most schools publish this on their website. These reports can help parent/carers to understand what the school offers and focus any discussions with them regarding how a child or young person can be supported.
If a child is likely to be, or has, already been away from school for more than 15 school days (these do not need to be consecutive), the school must inform the Local Authority (LA) of their absence.
The LA must then make arrangements for them to receive a suitable full-time education, unless part-time would meet their needs better. In Norfolk this is likely to be home learning delivered by a tutor, online or a combination of both.
Norfolk County Council require more than a GP’s letter to accept that a child or young person is off sick due to medical/health needs. Evidence can be provided by senior medical professionals, a mental health specialist such as a therapist or a paediatrician.
The school nursing team can give advice and support around health and wellbeing, parent/carers or young people can speak with the school nursing service through Just One Norfolk .
The medical needs service won’t provide education if there is not sufficient evidence to show that the child or young person is unfit to attend school. However, the LA should liaise with GPs and other agencies to try to obtain suitable evidence if contact with a senior medical professional is going to mean a long delay.
Medical Needs provision should be reviewed regularly to ensure it’s still suitable and needed and everyone involved should be working towards a return to full time education wherever possible.
These are some useful sources of information on Medical Needs provision:
Education for children with health needs who cannot attend school - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk