Education Support for Medical Absence (ESMA) teaching service
Our mission statement
Students feel connected with their peers, included in their school and supported in their learning.
ESMA is a teaching service for students unable to attend school for medical reasons.
- it delivers high quality teaching in the core subjects
- it complements the school’s support plan
- it provides reintegration support to schools
Who do we support?
The ESMA Teaching Service provides tuition for:
- pupils of statutory school age (5-16years old), who have medical evidence that justifies their school’s absence.
- pupils who are Hertfordshire residents with medical evidence for school non-attendance.
- a pupil who is pregnant from 29 weeks, or young mothers whose physical or mental health issues are affecting attendance.
What can I expect from the service?
- the ESMA Teaching Service complements the education provided by schools in the core subjects (English, Maths and Science).
- the purpose of the ESMA Teaching Service is to reintegrate students into their school, as soon as their health condition permits.
- the ESMA Teaching Service uses a variety of support tools:
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- Telepresence robot AV1 Robot
- real-time online teaching (18.5 hours weekly for Y5-Y11 via Acorn Digital Learning
- online and face-to-face group teaching by the ESMA Teacher. Allocation of hours dependent on health needs of pupil.
- online and face-to-face 1:1 tuition by the ESMA Teacher. Allocation of hours dependent on health needs of pupil.
- education support by the ESMA Teaching Assistant.
The ESMA teaching service is not a medical, or therapeutic advisory service. Staff do have awareness of a range of conditions, enabling reasonable adjustments to be made to teaching methods as required.
The ESMA Teaching Service complements the education provided by schools. The holistic support plan is designed and reviewed collaboratively with the pupil, family, school and health professionals enabling the child to feel connected, included and supported.
How to refer?
Referrals are made by the schools via the Hertfordshire Service Request form along with the ISL baseline information form to the relevant ISL geographical area.
The referral should include:
- signed parental consent
- copy of school reduced timetable, in line with HCC guidance on reduced timetables.
- copy of Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle.
- copy of the current treatment plan and the named medical contact
- for pupils receiving additional funding (through either an EHCP or Local High Needs Funding and/or Pupil Premium Grant) the school should state in the reintegration plan how this funding is being used.
What happens after the referral is submitted?
- referrals are considered and schools are informed within 5 working days
- once support has been identified the ESMA Teaching Service will attend a planning meeting with pupil, family, school and health professionals.
- during the period of support from the ESMA Teaching Service, the school will continue to provide access to the full curriculum (Art, History, etc.), according to the health needs of the pupil.
- regular reviews of the Holistic Support Plan are held during the period of support with pupil, family, school and health professionals.