Year 10 missing 6-8 weeks of school

[13lucky]

We have recently be told that our ds needs spinal surgery. He is in Year 10 at the moment and the surgery is likely to take place early in the New Year. We've been told that the recovery after the surgery is likely to entail 6-8 weeks off school and a gradual return after this. We are worried about the impact this will have on his GCSEs and wondered if anyone has been in this situation and if/how your dc was supported by school / things for us to ask school for...and whether your dc managed to catch up. Thank you

I would have thought he would be entitled to a tutor at home (and depending how long he is in the hospital he could attend the on-site hospital school).

If he has 15 days off he is entitled to home tuition -this can take a while to set up though so best talking to school sooner rather than later to arrange

I've had two students in this situation. Sent them work regularly and as and when they felt up to it they caught up slowly with some help. Both passed exams fine.

Do you know how we would go about asking for this? I assume this is the Local Authority who provides this rather than the school? And our LA is particularly rubbish. I have already emailed the school to ask what can be put in place and am awaiting a reply

Thank you. What subject do you teach please? And what extra help did you offer them? When you say passed...did they achieve what you predicted they might achieve had they not had 8 weeks off school? Thank you

https://www.gov.uk/illness-child-education

School should know the process
Call lea snd ask to speak to the educatio n Officer respinsible for children missing school due to illness

You could also go speak with the hospital school

@13lucky my daughter had a tutor when she was off with anxiety. From what I remember the LA have to agree to fund it but the school organised it.
Who have you emailed? The senco might be the best person.

I teach history. One was Christmas of yr11, one autumn of yr12 and both caught up. I provided revision guides, PowerPoints of lessons, talk through as needed etc. both hot grades I expected

My son missed 6 weeks of Y10 last year due to ill health. It wasn't planned like for surgery, he just got really sick.

First thing is don't panic. Ds was literally too ill to work or have a tutor for the entirety of those 6 weeks and he still managed to catch up with his classes, working independently, within a couple of months. He did drop 1 gcse (French) and was excused PE for the year due to the ongoing nature of his condition, which gave him 4 free periods a week to do catch up work.

His teachers told him what he'd missed and supplied resources but he wasn't offered any catch up teaching from the school. He was offered tuition in hospital but was too ill to work so not much use. Instead we used Oaks Academy (online resource), revision guides and ourselves (parents, older brother) to ensure he understood content. Ds is quite academic though and can be relied upon to work independently. If that's not the case for your son then maybe look more at using tutors.

I'd speak to school and put in place the arrangements for home learning/tutoring, but then try to park the worry about school work til after. Most children can catch up fine.

Spinal surgery is frightening, but it must be done presumably. So focus on supporting them emotionally for the surgery, and then focus on physical recovery. Then assume they will catch up academically and trust you will respond if there are any issues. You sound like you will definitely respond if needed.

Excellent it's happening in yr10 to give that time to catch up.

Good luck

My daughter had scoliosis surgery but we were able to arrange this for the summer holidays year 7 into year 8. As it happened she was ready to return much sooner than planned so after 4 weeks post op she was back full time.