Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered ensuring that compliant, needs-led NHS service models are delivered in mainstream schools, including adequate clinical provision and support for children and young people with medical and long-term conditions.

The Government is committed to delivering the healthiest generation of children ever.

Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies, and pupil referral units in England to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The accompanying statutory guidance makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions.

The Department for Education is currently updating this statutory guidance which will significantly strengthen how schools support pupils with medical conditions. More information can be found at the following link:

https://consult.education.gov.uk/medical-conditions-at-school/medical-conditions-at-school-statutory-guidance/

On 5 February 2026, the National Health Service published Standardising community health services – core component descriptions, to support ICBs in the strategic commissioning of community health services, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/standardising-community-health-services-core-component-descriptions/

This document outlines the core responsibilities of special school and community children’s nursing services, including their role in supporting children with medical conditions to access education settings.

In addition, the NHS provides targeted support through school and community nursing, and through Mental Health Support teams in schools.