Education professionals

Many pupils with epilepsy will not have special educational needs  (SEN) or additional learning needs . But around five out of every 10 will not achieve all they are able to. In the same way, many pupils with epilepsy will never have a seizure at school, but some will. We hope this information will help you to meet the needs of all these children and young people with epilepsy.

The following are some things you may need to consider.

• All students with epilepsy in the UK should have an Individual Healthcare Plan relevant to them.
• Most children and young people with epilepsy have their seizures fully controlled by epilepsy medicines.
• There are many different types of seizure. Each student's epilepsy will be unique to them.
• Some people have sub-clinical activity. This is epileptic activity that happens in the brain, without showing any outward signs. It can affect learning.
• Stress can be a trigger for seizures. Some students will find that adapting to school or college life is stressful. This could cause them to have more seizures than usual.
• Some higher education students with epilepsy may have been advised not to live alone. Or they may feel more comfortable with other people around them. If this is the case, giving them priority for living in halls of residence would be considered reasonable adjustment  under the equality laws.
• Some students with epilepsy may need extra support around exam times. It is their responsibility to request special consideration. They will need a supporting letter from their epilepsy specialist or specialist nurse.
• Epilepsy Action may be able to arrange for your staff to have epilepsy awareness training.

Individual Healthcare Plans (IHP)

In the UK, Epilepsy Action recommends that all pupils with epilepsy should have an IHP even if their seizures are well controlled. The IHP should be written by a healthcare professional, such as a school nurse or epilepsy specialist nurse, and a member of school staff. The pupil and their parent or carer should also be involved. The IHP should include information about:

• Their seizure types.
• Their seizure triggers, and whether they have any warnings or auras.
• How long their seizures last.
• What happens before, during and after a seizure.
• What, if any, first aid is needed.
• Which epilepsy medicines they take
• Whether any emergency medicines are prescribed, and how this is given.
• Whether they take any other medicines for other conditions.

This information is confidential and should only be available to members of staff who work with the pupil.

IHPs should be reviewed and updated at least once a year. Any changes needed between reviews, for example change in seizures or medicine, should be recorded as soon as possible.

Epilepsy Action has an Epilepsy policy for schools which is an ideal resource to develop a whole school policy. It contains template forms for an IHP.