Committee publication · Correspondence · 6 January 2026
Correspondence with Minister for School Standards on supporting pupils with medical conditions dated 18.12.25
From: Education Committee
Inquiry: Solving the SEND Crisis
Summary
The Education Committee Chair writes to the Minister for School Standards following up on a December 2024 commitment to publish guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions in schools. The Committee notes the guidance, intended to clarify roles and responsibilities around healthcare delivery in educational settings, has not been published as promised and seeks confirmation of publication timing or explanation of delays.
Key findings
- Government committed in July 2025 to publish non-statutory guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions by autumn 2025, developed jointly by DfE, DHSC, and NHS England
- Guidance has not been published to date despite the government deadline
- Committee identified gaps in SEND Code of Practice and DfE guidance regarding delegation of responsibility and framework for clinical healthcare in schools
- Committee regards the guidance as integral to existing statutory framework and not contingent on the Schools White Paper
- Committee emphasises urgency due to evident risks to pupil safety from absence of clear guidance
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Helen Hayes MP, Georgia Gould, Catherine McKinnell, Department for Education, Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, Education Select Committee
Notable line
“Given the evident risks to pupils safety associated with the absence of clear guidance, it is also urgent.”
Key Quotes
“… the Committee raised concerns about gaps in the SEND Code of Practice and Department for Education guidance on supporting pupils with medical conditions”
“… the Committee considers this guidance integral to the existing statutory framework and therefore not contingent on future policy proposals”
“Given the evident risks to pupils safety associated with the absence of clear guidance, it is also urgent.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗