§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance his Department has produced on the education of children in hospital; and when this guidance was last updated. [170314]
§ Mr. Miliband[holding answer 4 May 2004]: In November 2001 the DfES jointly with the Department of Health issued the statutory guidance, "Access to Education for children and young people with medical needs". The guidance sets out national minimum standards of education for children who cannot attend school because of their medical needs, including children in hospital. There are no current plans to update the guidance. However, the Department have been working to ensure that the guidance is implemented.
In June 2003 joint DfES/NHS Estates Guidance was also issued offering advice on the design of education accommodation in hospital settings. The guidance is designed to assist the process of designing excellent education provision in hospital settings whether new of refurbished.
1578W
Number of children looked after at 31 March, and percentage of those who had been continuously looked after for at least 12 months1,2 1994 1995 1996 1997 Number looked after3
Percentage continuously
looked after for
at least 12
months
Number looked after3
Percentage continuously
looked after for
at least 12
months
Number looked after3
Percentage continuously
looked after for
at least 12
months
Number looked after3
Percentage continuously
looked after for
at least 12
months
England 49,300 69 49,600 67 50,500 67 51,200 69 London 9,220 68 9,140 69 9,200 68 9,000 71 Inner London 4,760 71 4,750 71 4,820 70 4,720 74 Camden 275 75 260 76 260 68 270 69 City of London 0 0 — 0 — — — 0 Greenwich 285 75 280 81 295 72 330 73 Hackney 485 75 480 74 490 72 485 71