Schools have a legal duty under the Children and Families Act 2014 to support pupils with medical conditions. That includes epilepsy.
Your right to an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP)
The IHP should cover:
- What your child's seizures look like
- What staff should do (and what NOT to do)
- Rescue medication (e.g. buccal midazolam) — who is trained, where it's kept
- When to call 999 and when to call you
- Recovery — quiet space, water, time, no over-questioning
- PE, swimming, school trips, residentials
Ask the school nurse or SENCo to lead this. Bring the IHP from your neurology team.
Common worries
- PE and swimming: usually fine with the right supervision. Buddy systems and in the pool are common.
- Trips: schools can NOT exclude your child for having epilepsy. They must do a risk assessment with you.
- Missed learning after a seizure: ask for catch-up notes and reduced demands on recovery days.
Reasonable adjustments
- Quiet recovery room
- Permission to wear sunglasses (light sensitivity)
- Permission to leave lessons early to avoid crowded corridors
- Movement breaks if tiredness is a trigger
Sources: GOV.UK "Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school", Epilepsy Action, Young Epilepsy.