Home tuition and hospital teaching services guidance

Unless the pupil has a long-term or recurring medical condition, a pupil out of school will not qualify for home tuition unless they are likely to be out of school for more than 15 school days. If a child is likely to be out of school for more 15 school days and the school hasn’t made other arrangements to deliver suitable education outside of school, they should liaise with appropriate medical professionals as soon as possible to establish whether referral to the home tuition service is appropriate.

If it is deemed appropriate to make a referral to the home tuition service, a referral should be sent to the Aspire PRU home tuition service coordinator using the appropriate proforma [Appendix A]. Referral forms should be completed by the home school’s designated teacher. Each referral will must include supporting medical evidence that the child is unable to attend school due to health reasons. This evidence needs to be a letter from a medical consultant, Community Paediatrician, or qualified CAMHS practitioner. Where this specific medical evidence is not quickly available, supporting evidence from the child’s GP will suffice in the interim.

Following referral, medical evidence and advice from the school will be sought to establish the amount, pattern and location of tuition provided as well as to plan pupil reintegration at school. Home tuition service staff will initiate contact and liaise closely with the pupils, their families, their schools and other services as appropriate, including social services, health services, and educational psychologists.

In every case, contact will be made with the home school through the designated teacher. Information will be requested, in particular, the pupil’s level of attainment within the core subjects of the National Curriculum. Additionally, evidence of progress from standardised tests, or from Individual Education Plans in the case of pupils with Special Educational Needs, will contribute to the planning process.

School staff will work in partnership with the pupil, the Aspire PRU staff and parents, and will make available to tutors information such as curriculum and lesson plans as well as materials to enable continuity in education provision. This will enable the PRU to ensure that children are able to access suitable and flexible education appropriate to their needs. The nature of the provision will be responsive to the demands of what may be a changing health status.

As appropriate, arrangements will be made for pupils to undertake national tests and examinations.