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Education Support for Medical Absence (ESTMA)

The Education Support Team for Medical Absence (ESTMA) works together with schools to provide educational support to school age children and young people who are temporarily unable to attend school for health related reasons.

What are the aims of ESTMA?

• To minimise the interruption and disruption to the pupil’s schooling by continuing education as normally as the child’s condition permits and working towards reintegration into school as soon as possible, as the ESTMA service is not an alternative to school.
• To work closely with the school to ensure continuity of educational provision.
• To provide as far as possible a relevant curriculum which reflects that of the school and the requirements of the National Curriculum.
• To work in partnership with pupils, parents/carers, schools, medical and all Children, Schools and Families colleagues to ensure the best possible outcome for each young person.

Who is the ESTMA service for?

• Pupils of statutory school age resident in Hertfordshire
• Pupils who have an anticipated absence from school for a period of more than 15 days for medical reasons
• Pupils whose attendance is below 50% due to medical reasons
• Pregnant school girls and young mothers from 29 weeks of pregnancy
• Post 16 pupils already working with ESTMA who require additional support in Year 12 to complete GCSE courses in the core subjects
• Pupils integrating back into school following a period of absence
  due to medical reasons

What does the ESTMA service provide?

• Advice
• Education support
• A multi-agency approach
• Support for pupils integrating back into school
• Continuity of education

Accessing the ESTMA service

Access is through your Integrated Services for Learning Area Team. For more information and contacts visit:

• Integrated Services for Learning - Education Support Centres (with ESTMA)

CSF3956 - Access to Education for Children and Young People Unable to Attend School for Medical Reasons

• Word 2003, 222kb/16 pages, 05/01/2011, csf3956_access_education_children_absence_medical_reasons.doc

Appendix B includes a School Exemplar Policy for the Education of Children and Young People with Medical Needs.

Learning Games - Study Support and Out of Hours Learning Support Case Study - June 2010

A Study Support and Out of Hours Learning Support Case Study which looks at enhanced study skills opportunities, that are tailored to individual need, for children and young people missing education because of illness. More...