Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Children and Families Act statutory duty on schools to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions is being implemented effectively.

We know how important it is that children with medical conditions are supported to enjoy a full education. That is why we introduced a new duty to require governing bodies to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions and have provided statutory guidance outlining schools’ responsibilities in this area.

Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework requires inspectors, in making judgements, to pay particular attention to the outcomes of a range of groups of pupils, including those with medical needs.

In addition, we are working with organisations with experience in supporting children with medical conditions to help raise awareness of the duty.