§ Lord Smith of Leighasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in the light of the effect that epilepsy has on a child's ability to learn and memorise, they issue advice to examination boards, local education authorities and schools to ensure sympathetic treatment of children suffering from epilepsy. [HL4565]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Filkin)Guidance on how to ensure that candidates with special medical conditions such as epilepsy have appropriate access to examinations is issued by the Joint Council for Qualifications. The joint council's current guidance is published in the documentRegulations and Guidance Relating to Candidates who are Eligible for Adjustments in Examinations; which is available at http:/www.jcgg.org.uk/index2.asp.
The DfES and DoH joint guidance Supporting pupils with medical needs: a good practice guide aims to assist schools in drawing up policies on medication in schools and establishing effective management systems to support pupils with medical needs. The guide identifies the four most common childhood conditions that schools may be asked to support—anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy.
The SEN code of practice provides statutory guidance to local education authorities (LEAs), maintained schools, early education settings and others (including health and social services) on carrying out their statutory duties to make suitable provision for children with special educational needs, including those with medical needs.