Updated Guidance on School Support for Children with Crohn's and Colitis

A diagnosis of Crohn’s or Colitis can turn your life upside down whatever your age, but for children who experience the symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease while at school, it can feel particularly disruptive and challenging. At Crohn’s & Colitis UK we are committed to transforming understanding of the conditions in all walks of life, and that’s why we’re a member of the Health Conditions in Schools Alliance. As part of that group, we’ve been working with the Department for Education to help improve guidance on supporting children and young people with medical conditions in schools.

New statutory guidance has been drafted and we’re pleased to see several important changes reflected in the draft.

CROHN’S AND COLITIS NOW RECOGNISED IN SCHOOL GUIDANCE

The revised draft guidance now explicitly references and explains Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, within the document. This is an important step in transforming understanding of the conditions across education settings. The guidance also signposts schools and education staff to Crohn’s & Colitis UK and relevant NICE guidance for further information.

Importantly, the guidance recognises that schools may need to make reasonable adjustments to help students manage their condition and participate fully in education.

Examples include:

• unrestricted access to toilets
• flexibility around attendance, including hospital appointments
• adjustments to timetables, physical activity and assessments
• access to medication
• rest breaks
• support for emotional wellbeing

SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS BEFORE PROVIDING SUPPORT

Another significant improvement is strengthened guidance stating that schools should not wait for a formal diagnosis before providing support.

Where it is clear that a child or young person has medical needs, schools should act to make sure they can participate fully in education. This is particularly important for conditions like Crohn’s and Colitis, where diagnosis can sometimes take time.

CLEAR EXPECTATIONS ON ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE

The revised guidance also sets out clear examples of unacceptable practice, including:

• preventing children from taking toilet breaks when needed to manage their condition
• requiring parents to attend school to administer medication or provide medical support
• placing expectations on parents that could force them to stop working because schools are not providing appropriate support

HAVE YOUR SAY - PUBLIC CONSULTATION NOW OPEN

The Department for Education wants to know what you think. A public consultation on the updated draft guidance is now open. From now until 1^st May, you can read the consultation and have your say at the link below.

You can read the consultation and share your own views here:
https://consult.education.gov.uk/medical-conditions-at-school/medical-conditions-at-school-statutory-guidance/

Consultations like this help ensure guidance reflects the real experiences of children, families and professionals. We encourage members of the Crohn’s & Colitis UK community, to take part.

Your voice can help shape better support for children and young people living with Crohn’s and Colitis in schools across England when the statutory guidance is finalised and implemented in September.