Epilepsy support in school
How epilepsy can affect learning and school life
Although epilepsy does not have any bearing on intelligence, it can affect a child's experience in the classroom. Some children have difficulties with memory, processing speed, attention and concentration, while others find that seizures or treatment disrupt their learning.
Seizures can take many forms. They may involve episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, stiffness or jerky convulsions, although symptoms vary considerably from child to child. Epilepsy is usually a lifelong condition but can improve as children mature.
Epilepsy is usually treatable with medication. However, some epilepsy medications have side-effects that impact learning, including hyperactivity, drowsiness, memory problems and difficulty concentrating.
Most children with epilepsy attend mainstream schools and do not require any additional provision beyond appropriate understanding and support. Epilepsy often accompanies other conditions, such as cerebral palsy, and some children with severe epilepsy may attend a special school.
Choosing a school for a child with epilepsy
You need to feel confident that a school can provide any medical support necessary and will make adjustments so that your child is not disadvantaged in their learning. Aspects you should consider are:
Medical support and seizure management
Has the school trained all staff, including supply teachers and playground staff, in how to respond to a seizure, and do they clearly understand when it represents a medical emergency?
Do you know who the staff member trained to administer emergency medication is?
If there are physical aspects of the classroom which could trigger seizures, will the school make adjustments?
Learning support for pupils with epilepsy
If your child has known side-effects which have an impact in the classroom, such as problems with concentration or behaviour, how will they deal with this?
What help will they give your child to contend with learning lost during absence seizures?
School trips, activities and exams
Will they ensure that your child can take part in off-site visits, after school clubs, residential trips, etc.? And how would they risk assess these?
If you think some activities may put your child at risk of seizures, how would they address this? For example, will they provide one-to-one support for swimming? How would they manage chemistry experiments?
If stress is a trigger, how would the school support your child during exams?
What other help can they offer during exams, for example rest breaks, or allowing pupils to take exams at a different time if seizures typically occur at a particular part of the day?
