Association of Young People with ME

Registered charity number 1082059

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'Suitable' educational arrangements

What happens when the local education authority or the school wants to change the education arrangements for a young person with ME but s/he is not ready for anything more yet. What can be done?

Under Section19 of the Education Act 1996 the law says:

'Each local education authority (LEA) shall make arrangements for the provision of suitable education at school or otherwise than at school for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them'

'Suitable education is defined as efficient education suitable to the age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs the child may have'

Each local home tuition service or school works as part of the LEA and therefore works under Section 19 of the law. When arrangements are agreed between the tuition service or school and the family, whether it is home tuition, part-time school or a mixture, in effect, it is agreed that this provision classes as 'suitable education' under the Act.

It therefore follows logically that, as long as the young person's medical condition stays the same, the agreed 'suitable' provision should also stay the same. Any proposed, unreasonable changes would make the provision unsuitable.
In other words, if it was agreed before that the current provision was suitable and the young person's medical condition and situation has not changed, then the current provision can still be deemed to be suitable.
A medical letter confirming no change in the student's condition may prove useful.

If the tuition service or school is proposing changes beyond the capability of a young person given their current level of health, parents could suggest these proposals be regarded as a long term goal to be achieved in the future when the young person is well enough to do so.

Once the young person's condition improves, or indeed if a young person's condition deteriorates, a meeting can be called with the professionals and family and consideration given to new 'suitable' arrangements taking the improvement or deterioration into account.

Article last edited on Thursday 12th August 2010 Printable Version

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