Describe the responsibilities of the early years practitioner when supporting a child who has a chronic health condition
Answers
In April 2014, section 100 of the Children and Families Act (2014) legislated to strengthen the support given to children in schools with chronic medical conditions. However, the Act does not include children in the foundation stage because the former Education Minister, Michael Gove, stated in a written ministerial statement (DfE, 2014) that the supporting pupils with chronic medical conditions guidance ‘will not apply to early years provision as there is already sufficient coverage of this issue in the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage’. This assertion has made me reflect on the possible implications for children with chronic medical conditions in the early years. I am wondering whetherexcluding children in the Foundation Stage from the aims of the legislation may lead to inequality in care and education because the health needs of such children may be over-looked.
Background to policy for children with chronic medical conditions
The Children and Families Act came into effect on 1st September 2014 and it is a welcome move in addressing the barriers to inclusion in education that the symptoms of chronic medical conditions can pose for children. The need for greater awareness for children to have support in their education setting has meant that the Supporting pupils at school with medical conditionsStatutory Guidance (DfE, 2014) has been published. The Guidance …
places a duty on governing bodies of maintained schools, proprietors of academies and management committees of pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils at their school with medical conditions (DfE, 2014: 3).