Medical needs tuition
IAPT provides education and tuition for children and young people with medical needs, including mental health needs, who are unable to attend school for 15 consecutive school days or for a total of 15 school days across an academic year due to their health condition. The service is available to children and young people aged 5 to 16 who live in Luton, including those who attend schools outside the borough.
What the service does
IAPT provides educational support for children and young people who are unable to attend school because of physical or mental health needs.
Tuition may be delivered:
- online
- in schools
- in libraries and other community venues
- at tuition centres
- at the child's home, where appropriate
The service also:
- supports children and young people to continue their education during periods of ill health
- provides opportunities for social interaction and engagement
- supports reintegration back into school when the period of tuition ends
Working in partnership
IAPT works closely with:
- parents and carers
- children and young people
- CAMHS and other health services
- SEND professionals
- children's social care
- schools and educational settings
Referring a child to the service
Referrals must be made by the child's school using the Medical Needs Referral Form or the referral portal.
Eligibility criteria
To access medical needs tuition, the child or young person must:
- be a resident of Luton (they may attend a school outside Luton)
- be of statutory school age (5 to 16 years old)
- be unable to attend school, or expected to be unable to attend school, for:
- at least 15 consecutive school days, or
- at least 15 school days cumulatively during the current academic year
- have a medical need, including:
- physical health conditions
- mental health difficulties
Medical evidence
Referrals must be supported by appropriate medical evidence demonstrating that the child or young person's physical or mental health needs are preventing, or are expected to prevent, them from attending school. Evidence may be provided by a:
- GP
- consultant
- paediatrician
- CAMHS clinician
- psychologist or another relevant health professional
The type and amount of evidence required will be considered as part of the referral process.
Need advice
If you would like to discuss the needs of a child or young person who is unable to attend school because of physical or mental health needs, contact the team:
Email: iapteam@luton.gov.uk
Legal Framework
Statutory duties of schools to support pupils with medical conditions
Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on governing bodies and proprietors to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions in maintained schools:
- academies
- Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)
Governing bodies must ensure that pupils with medical conditions are properly supported so that they can access education, including school trips and physical education, and achieve their academic potential. They should also ensure that school leaders work with health and social care professionals, pupils and parents to understand and meet individual needs.
Schools should have regard to the Department for Education's statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions at school, which remains the current statutory guidance pending future updates.
For pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), this guidance should be read alongside the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years, which remains the current SEND Code of Practice.
Statutory duties of the council to support children with health needs
Where a child or young person is unable to access suitable full-time education because of their health needs, the council has a duty to arrange appropriate alternative educational provision. This duty is set out in Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 and explained in the Department for Education's statutory guidance education for children with health needs who cannot attend school.
The guidance explains how local authorities should ensure that children and young people who are unable to attend school because of health needs continue to receive suitable education and are supported to successfully reintegrate into school when they are well enough to return.
Further information can be found in the Department for Education statutory guidance: