Education and school

Every child has the right to an education. Children with life-limiting illnesses or conditions aspire to normality and will often express a strong desire to return to school or continue their education, despite probable limitations. This chapter looks at how education can be offered to children with a life-limiting diagnosis and suggests how mainstream schools can work collaboratively with the child and the family to integrate or reintegrate them into their school programme. Information is provided on ways in which the school can manage risks, protect the child, and play a pivotal role in the provision of holistic and ongoing support. It also considers the need for in-depth planning and training for school staff in order to achieve safe reintegration and what must be done to provide support to siblings, classmates, and educators while the child attends school and during bereavement, should the child die.