Children with long term illness

If your child is unable to go to their regular school because they are in hospital or they have a long-term medical condition, we have the Kent Health Needs Education service (HNE) to help them.

The sort of help we can offer may include home tuition, education at a local centre or other office, or education in hospital itself.  What your child would get depends on their illness or medical needs.

Your child’s condition does need to be suitably long-term before the HNE service would get involved. Short hospital stays or short-term illnesses do not qualify a child for support.

What to do if your child has a long-term illness

You can’t apply to the HNE service yourself if you think your child needs their help. You need to talk to your child’s school as soon as you know that your child has a long-term illness or medical condition, and they will be able to refer your child to the HNE service.

If your child is eligible for their help, the HNE service will be in contact with you and your child’s school to arrange what support will be offered.