Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the Department of Health and the Department for Education are working together to provide pastoral care and support to pupils with HIV.

Children and young people with medical conditions should receive the support they need to enable them to participate in a full education. The Government has introduced a new duty at Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 under which school governing bodies must make arrangements to support such pupils.

The guidance for this duty has been developed in collaboration with a range of stakeholders including the Health Conditions in Schools Alliance, school leaders, academy organisations, unions, Department of Health officials and young people and their parents. In particular, the guidance advises schools to consider the social and emotional implications associated with medical conditions.

NHS England promotes partnership working in the commissioning and provision of services for children and young people with HIV. The Children's HIV Association is a member of the HIV Clinical Reference Group and leads projects with teachers to promote HIV awareness in schools.