Statutory guidance for schools: supporting students with arthritis

Legal obligations for schools 

Schools are legally required to support young people with arthritis, so that their condition doesn’t put them at any disadvantage to their peers in terms of access to school buildings or the opportunity to reach their full potential with their studies.

To achieve this, schools are required by law to make any reasonable adjustments necessary to help young people overcome barriers caused by their condition.

This is covered under the Equality Act 2010 in England, Scotland and Wales; and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (Northern Ireland) 2016. Under these laws, arthritis is classed as a disability.

It’s the responsibility of governors to ensure that schools have the means to fulfil that duty, and to make sure they are meeting these obligations.

Statutory guidance

There is statutory guidance for school leaders and governors from each of the four nations within the UK that sets out legal requirements for supporting a pupil with a medical condition.

• Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school, applies to England, December 2015. Visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3
• Supporting children and young people with healthcare needs in schools – published by The Scottish Government, December 2017. Visit: www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-children-young-people-healthcare-needs-schools/documents/
• Supporting learners with healthcare needs – published by the Welsh Government, March 2017.
• Supporting Pupils with Medication Needs Guidance, from the Department of Education in Northern Ireland, February 2008. Visit: www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/supporting-pupils-medication-needs

In England, Ofsted inspectors will assess how well a school supports pupils with a medical condition as part of its assessment of a school’s safeguarding standards.

In Wales, Estyn inspectors will consider the effectiveness of the school’s policies, procedures and arrangements for meeting the needs and welfare of children with medical conditions as part of its assessment of a school’s safeguarding standards.

In Scotland, members of an Inspection team assess approaches to safeguarding which may include how well a school supports children and young people with medical conditions. This might include the extent to which reasonable adjustments have been made to support and safeguard learners.

In Northern Ireland, the Educational Training Inspectorate will consider the effectiveness of the school’s policies, procedures and arrangements for meeting the needs and welfare of children with medical conditions as part of its assessment of a school’s safeguarding standards.

Arthritis UK can advise how to provide ideas of the types of reasonable adjustments you could discuss with your pupil and their family to help them achieve their best.