Schools, early years and childcare

Medway Council's service for pupils with medical needs has two bases. Children who are actually in hospital are given educational support through the hospital tuition base. This is a bright and colourful set of rooms, provided by the hospital. Beds can be wheeled into the education rooms and young people are helped to continue their education within their capabilities. The teachers are advised by medical staff.

Rivermead is the hospital school base for pupils with medical needs who are not well enough to be in full-time education but are not in hospital. They remain on the roll of their mainstream school and there is close co-operation between the two.

It is very important that the mainstream school is kept fully involved, helping to set work and keep up communications with the young person.

The aim is always to help pupils continue their learning but to take account of their medical and emotional needs. It is understood that attendance may be part time depending on treatment.

There is also a home tuition service as an outreach from Rivermead.

Rivermead caters for:

• pupils with medical needs,
• pupils with mental health difficulties,
• pregnant schoolgirls,
• teenage mothers.

Admissions to Rivermead are made through Medway Council's admission procedures.

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