Being in hospital is a stressful time for any child. Happily for most, their stay is brief, and not repeated. However some children need to spend prolonged or recurrent periods of time in hospital. These children not only have to cope with their condition but also with the loss of schooling and social isolation from school friends and family.

Hospital schools provide a unique service for these children. It enables them to maintain their academic work as well as developing their social skills and personal confidence as they mature. The hospital school provides an environment where even very ill children can engage with education due to the school’s unique ability to tailor their teaching to the individual child. Some children will be taught in the hospital environment and others will require home tuition.

And when the time comes, the hospital school plays a vital role in enabling these children to successfully transfer back into mainstream school.

The school supports children from the preschool period right through GCSEs and A Levels and facilitates these young adults in choosing the right course into employment.

Finally the hospital school is not simply a ‘gap filler’ - it strives to make the most of every child’s potential irrespective of their medical condition, and their stay in hospital as happy and productive as possible. 

Madeleine Rooney (Consultant Rheumatologist)