School

This list isn’t exhaustive – each person’s condition and needs vary, so be assertive, say what you need and hopefully school can sort it for you!

Medical evidence

It’s useful to have a generic letter from your GP outlining your condition(s) and your requirements. You can ask them to write one specifically regarding school, and you will probably need one recommending what arrangements you need for exams (e.g. breaks, extra time) so that your school / exam centre can secure these for you. Read more on exams here. 

Do I qualify? 

If you’ve become unwell with something that’s temporary, you’re struggling to get a formal medical diagnosis or you don’t identify as ‘disabled’ that’s okay – your school still has a duty to try and help you.

Neurodivergence and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)

School can be overwhelming for people who are neurodivergent and/or have SpLDs. This is a broad group of conditions that includes autism, dyslexia, and ADHD. Symptoms vary hugely, and school can help with getting a diagnosis, as well as implementing adjustments to make school easier for you. 

Once diagnosed, you can get support in school, e.g. a safe place you can go to when you feel overwhelmed, your daily routine planned in advance, have teachers understand your behaviour. Each school has a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) who should be a good person to talk to about getting diagnosed and getting support.

If you’ve been ill and missed time at school:

Missing school – if this is short-term, even just 1 hour for a doctor’s appointment, or one day off sick, your school must be made aware, to ‘authorise’ your absence (for each day of your absence). Unauthorised absences can lead to fines for parents or guardians. 

If you have a health-condition which is longer-term, causing ongoing absences, the government requires your school and your local authority (county council) to support your education.

Your school must:

• Let the local council know if you’re likely to miss > 15 school days, and tell them of your needs, abilities & studies so they can help you too
• Help you reintegrate at school when you return
• Keep you informed about school events and clubs
• Encourage you to stay in contact with other pupils, e.g. through visits or videos

If you’re going to miss school for a long time (>3 weeks), the local council should provide support, which in serious and long-term cases may include 1:1 teaching at home, in hospital or a mix of both. If it’s clear from the start that your absences will be long-term / recurring, they should arrange this support for you from the very start of your absence. 

Local councils must make sure you still get a full time education (unless part time is better for your health); they should also have a senior officer in charge of the arrangements and a written policy explaining how they’ll meet their responsibilities to educate you. To contact them, search the name of your local council + school absences, or ask your school who to contact.

Catching up on work/time missed:

1. Don’t put pressure on yourself; make sure your health is strong enough before going back to school/study
2. Show willingness – if you want to stay in school, perhaps part-time, showing your teachers you’re keen to catch up and willing to work on your own where needed will encourage them to help you more 
3. Work differently! If you’re stuck in bed – find YouTube revision channels/documentaries, don’t worry about sitting at a desk writing essays
4. Prioritise – do you have any coursework due sooner than other subjects? Is there a course you want to study at A-level or university? If so, focus here to get a good grade for that subject (and in core subjects, like English and Maths). Can you skip starter activities and fillers to focus on core content? 
5. You’re not the first – more students have been in your position than you imagine; you’re not ‘weird’ for missing school or ‘failing’ because you’re thinking about retaking a year. Being ill and still wanting to learn shows you’re hard-working & dedicated

Find more advice on studying independently here.

Going part time:

School may suggest, or you may request, that you go part-time, if your health is stopping you attending full-time.

This can be ideal if you don’t feel able to attend full-time school, but you don’t want to take time out and rejoin/redo a year, or home-school. It means you still see friends and have support from professional teachers.

However, there is no formal process for this:

You/your parents/guardians and the school must agree. If one party doesn’t agree (the school doesn’t have to say yes if you ask; part-time is only meant to be a temporary solution, and some schools may feel unable to provide adequate support for your needs) you may feel compelled to leave. 

You can try other schools, contact your local council about their support for students with health conditions, look into home-schooling etc. However, none of these are necessarily less-stressful. 

Keeping good relationships with your teachers, tutors and speaking regularly to explain your situation and show your desire to attend at least part-time will help them know how best to help you and encourage them to work to help you stay on, if that’s what you want.

Read about Charley’s experience of studying part time here.