The London Borough of Sutton’s policy for Educating children with emotional, wellbeing and health related needs who cannot attend school defines the policy, organisation, and arrangements for cooperating with parents and health professionals to ensure children and young people with medical conditions have full access to education.
The policy identifies how the local area partnership will ensure a good education for children who cannot attend school because of mental and/or physical health needs, and clarify how this will be delivered in practice, ensuring a consistent approach across phases and settings.
The Secondary VPP acts in support of this policy and is held in two parts
Part 1: includes problem solving and recommendations of support allocation for children at risk of exclusion or where there are ‘stuck’ attendance cases.
Part 2: In line with the Local Authority policy for supporting pupils at school with medical conditions, decisions are made about support, and or advice and guidance is given where education is identified as no longer suitable in meeting the needs of pupils experiencing challenges attending school due to difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing.
An element of the support may include access to Sutton Tuition And Reintegration Service (STARS) wider offer and acts as multi-agency admissions panel.
In addition to ensuring that a child receives a suitable education the panel will act in consultation to ensuring robust wrap around support is provided by the multi-agency network to ensure root causes are identified and addressed.
Note: Admissions requests for children experiencing physical health difficulties or mental health difficulties that are of primary age will continue to be managed directly by STARS.
Making a Referral to VPP to support pupils with medical needs
Prior to making a referral to the panel schools must ensure that they have followed the policy and the graduated response to improve attendance.
To make a referral schools must complete the VPP template and provide additional information which is described below. Please use this checklist to ensure you submit all required information and evidence. Please note that incomplete referrals will not be considered by panel and will be returned to you.;
a) Completed VPP referral form including the health elements
b) Medical evidence/input, clarifying the health need (diagnosed or undiagnosed), the impact on the child. This can include;
- Letter from medical practitioner
- Treatment plan
- Appointment cards/letters/prescriptions
- Input or evidence from a suitable health professional or similar that has seen the child for example GP, CAMHS, Educational Psychologist, Education Wellbeing practitioner, School Nurse, medical Consultant. This list is not exhaustive.
Please Note: Referrals should only be made to School Nursing team if there is a new health need for a child that needs support, or where there are no other professional agencies involved e.g. CAMHS, Consultant etc. - Evidence can also include input or evidence from multi-agency professionals that are working with the child and /or family for example other Local Authority/Cognus professionals e.g. social worker, early help worker, parenting worker and including voluntary and community organisations who are providing direct work for example EBSA outreach, Support for SEND needs etc.
- Professional feedback and/or input from GP, CAMHS, Education Wellbeing Service, Educational Psychologist etc.
This list is not exhaustive.
It is an expectation that schools will have sought advice and guidance from school nursing and if appropriate Education Wellbeing Service to support the multi-agency discussion or another appropriate professional such as an Educational Psychologist.
c) Individual Health Care Plan or similar plan
d) Completed school nurse consent form and the medical consent on the VPP form from parent/carer
e) to have sought advice and guidance from school allocated Cognus Education Welfare Officer (EWO)
f) Voice of the child and the parent to identify what support they would find helpful both educationally and pastorally/holistically
If you have any questions about a request for support made or the process please contact vpp@cognus.org.uk