Long term illness absence help?

[Carrie5608]

Ds 13 has been off school ill for the past four weeks. He missed six weeks last year for the same thing. However despite GP visits, hospital visits, blood tests etc no diagnosis has been made. He is now on the waiting list for abdominal scan, Barium swallow and follow through for suspected Crohns disease.

School have said, its fine he's bright, he will catch up. They send work home but only if we ask.

I am beside myself with worry both about his health and his education.

What should we be doing? Advice please.

Hi Sorry to hear your sons not well. My own DS has been in and out of school since Year 8. We eventually got a diagnosis of Crohns in 2013. Sadly he is now out of school completely (Yr 11) My advice is to keep the lines of communication with the school open. Make sure they send the work and return it for marking. Don't be afraid to keep asking.

Sadly my experience has not been a good one and in my opinion there is no real space for a child with a chronic illness such as Crohns in the education system. My son was initially in an Independent School and so we could not access any support as its not available to the Independent Sector. Having moved him to a State School to get the support I quickly realised that they wanted 95% attendance. He was never going to achieve this and life became unbearable. Having been threatened with court we eventually went down the route of Home Ed.

Please feel free to inbox me for any questions about Crohns or Education.

My other advice is to not listen to the school when they say he should be in school no matter how he feels. I fought many battles with my son and lost. Now I look back and see how terribly ill he was and the fatigue was crippling.

If he has been off school more than 15 days statutory guidance kicks in www.gov.uk/illness-child-education

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269469/health_needs_guidance__-_revised_may_2013_final.pdf

Get your lea involved to provide education eg tutor if he not in school

See also www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/306952/Statutory_guidance_on_supporting_pupils_at_school_with_medical_conditions.pdf

My dd got ill summer 2012, she eventually thru lea began attending a small group up to six hours per week some weeks she only managed one two hour session, from nov 2012, building up. She then attended hospital school as. Day pupil from sept 2013 and reintegrated into ms school during 2014. Her attendance is still low 80 % - 90 %. It isn't an issue. Lea were v good named officer for similar children. Ask lea what provision they have. Work with school and lea. Draw up a written plan .

Thanks everyone. I have phoned school and ask for head of year to contact. I am in Northern Ireland so it is slightly different here.

I feel very isolated he is so sick but we have no diagnosis yet.
I am not sure how well he even would be to do any lessons.

ah ok - dont know system in NI but this says "If your child can't attend school for medical reasons
If your child can't go to school because of their medical needs or health problems, your Education and Library Board has a responsibility to enable them to continue their education, as their condition allows. This could be achieved by lessons in hospital, for example."
www.nidirect.gov.uk/extra-support-for-your-child

Best thing is you get updated medical reports on your DS and call a meeting with school to sit and agree a strategy for work to come home, using email, using remote access eg skype to observe certain lessons from home etc, etc . focus on the core subjects - english maths science - for now. keep up with art as its therapeutic....

when/if he could go to school even part time; if not what could happen eg hospitals school ? is hospital near enough to access easily could he go and attend lessons there on daily basis ?

the guidance for England anyway is useful as it gives best practice.