Education laws and advice for epilepsy

Laws and government guidance

SEN Code of Practice
Guidance that all schools must follow when making decisions about children who have SEN.

The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005
Law protecting disabled people from discrimination in education. It also strengthens the rights of children with special educational needs to be educated in mainstream education.

Support for pupils with medication needs
Department of Education guidance for schools on supporting pupils with medication needs.

Further advice

Education Authority
Information for parents and schools about special educational needs and medical needs.

Special Educational Needs Advice Centre (SENAC)
Offers advice, information and advocacy for parents of children with special educational needs.
Tel: 028 9079 5779

Laws and government guidance

Supporting children and young people with healthcare needs in schools: guidance
This is a guidance document for NHS Boards, education authorities and schools about supporting children and young people with healthcare needs in schools.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
Provides the legal framework for identifying and addressing the additional support needs of children and young people who face barriers to learning. The Act has been amended by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009, the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, and the Education (Scotland) Act 2016.

Additional support for learning: statutory guidance 2017
Government guidance for schools and local authorities on supporting pupils with additional support needs.

Equality Act 2010
Protects children with epilepsy from disability discrimination and sets a legal duty on schools to make reasonable adjustments. Also see our information about epilepsy and your rights.

Further advice

Enquire
The Scottish advice service for additional support for learning.
Helpline: 0345 123 2303

The Scottish Government website
Information on additional support for learning, including contact details of advice organisations.

Laws and government guidance

Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018
In 2021 a new Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system replaced the previous Special Educational Needs (SEN) system.

Find more information about the ALN System – Snap Cymru

There is also information on the additional learning needs system for parents and families here – Additional learning needs (ALN) system: guide for parents and families | GOV.WALES

Local authorities can offer support and advice about ALN. You can contact your local authority through the ALN or schools page of your council website.

Supporting learners with healthcare needs
Government guidance on what schools should do to support pupils with healthcare needs.

Equality Act 2010
Protects children with epilepsy from disability discrimination and sets a legal duty on schools to make reasonable adjustments. Also see our information about epilepsy and your rights.

Further advice

SNAP Cymru
Advice and support to families of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Helpline: 0808 801 0608

Contact – for families with disabled children
Advice about support for special educational needs.
Helpline: 0808 808 3555