Cheshire East Council home page

Education of children and young people with medical needs

Some children and young people are unable to attend normal full-time schooling for medical reasons.

Schools may need to seek the support of the local authority for pupils, who are temporarily unable to attend school and who:

  • are physically ill
  • are injured
  • have mental health problems

Accessing the Medical Needs Service

Parents can ask their child's school for support from the Medical Needs Service.

Schools can make referrals to the tuition team: medical needs service using the Live Well portal - Children, young people and families portal (cheshireeast.gov.uk)

All referrals must be supported by one of the following medical professionals using the medical evidence form below (this must be uploaded into the portal at the time of referral).

  • consultant paediatrician or adolescent psychiatrist
  • consultant child psychiatrist
  • hospital consultant
  • CAMHS at tier 3 or above

We cannot accept supporting evidence from a General Practitioner alone.

Schools will also be required to share the ‘information for pupils’ and ‘the one-minute guide’ with the child and their parent(s)/ guardians. Schools must ensure that the ‘pupil voice’ form and ‘strengths and difficulties questionnaire’ (SDQ) are completed and uploaded with the referral. (The SDQ may be completed by the child, their parent or a professional, who knows the child well.)

Schools can find further information about the Medical Needs Service on ChESS.

Section 19 education

The Education Act 1996, Section 19 states that local authorities are responsible for arranging suitable and (normally) full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education without such provision.

This policy sets out how Cheshire East Local Authority will discharge its statutory duty to arrange suitable education for children of compulsory school age who cannot attend school by reason ‘Other’ than that of illness or exclusion from school. It also explains the governance, processes and standards applied to Section 19 referrals, including those that intersect with medical needs, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP).

All requests for section 19 education will be reviewed and judged on a case-by-case basis. A section 19 panel meets weekly during school term time in order to make these decisions. Decisions are evidence-based, consistent and proportionate, with clear thresholds and robust record-keeping.

Section 19 provision is time-limited and aims to support reintegration or transition to a sustainable education placement. The child will remain on their school roll, and school will continue to play a fundamental part in the child’s education and wellbeing.

Section 19 is not a substitute for SEND duties; where a child has an Educational Health Care Plan, the SEND Team must ensure Section F is delivered and plans reviewed.

Contact: Sec19education@cheshireeast.gov.uk

This inbox is monitored during school term time.

Contact Medical Needs Service

Page last reviewed: 23 June 2026