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Education action plan

Schools and teachers can go the extra mile for young people with epilepsy by:

Monitoring achievement and behaviour

• Keep careful and appropriate records of students with epilepsy
• Changes in behaviour or levels/rates of achievement can be due to epilepsy and should be recorded
• Tackle any problems early

Including the child in activities and providing a buddy

• Offer support in school with a mentoring or buddying system to help broaden understanding of the condition
• Avoid isolation and stigma - allow students to take a full part in all outings and activities
• Make necessary adjustments e.g. exam timings, coursework deadlines, timetables

Liaising fully with parents and health professionals

• Let parents know what is going on in school - good information sharing is vital
• Ask for information about a student's health care - it helps you to fully meet their needs

Ensuring staff are epilepsy aware and trained to deal with a seizure

• Know exactly what to do if a student has a seizure
• Raise awareness across the whole school community - provide information to students, parents and staff

Young Epilepsy's Champions Campaign has worked in collaboration with a group of local schools to develop a model of good practice which supports schools and teachers to improve the support they are able to give to students with epilepsy.

In a survey by Birmingham University (for Epilepsy Action in 2007) students with epilepsy reported tiredness had a major effect on their condition. They worried about being at school and wanted their fellow pupils and school staff to know about the nature of epilepsy, how widespread it is, its impacts - and what they should do if a student had a seizure.

The education pilot

The Tandridge Confederation in Surrey were the first schools to engage with us on this work and we remain extremely grateful to them for their commitment. The project quickly extended through 'word of mouth' to encompass a variety of other schools in the local area.

We worked with a full range of schools to ensure we developed a truly fit all model of practice. Our education pilot partner schools included:

• Infant
• Junior
• Primary
• Secondary
• Special - residential and day Independent
• Confederation of schools
• Rural
• Inner city
• Boarding
• Academy schools

We trained 31 School Epilepsy Champions from 21 schools (7,000 pupils).

Training was extremely well received with feedback ratings showing 86% and 90% satisfaction.

Following their training, our School Epilepsy Champions consulted with colleagues to develop enhanced practice and draw up new policy. This provided opportunities for greater awareness across the school community and ensured policies were appropriate for each school and clearly understood by staff.

We have also been meeting with all the main teaching unions and professional associations who have expressed their support for this work.

School Epilepsy Champion:

Since the completion of the pilot we have gone on to train School Epilepsy Champions across the country. To find out more about becoming a School Epilepsy Champion visit School Epilepsy Champions.

The role of a School Epilepsy Champion includes:

• Attending a Young Epilepsy Champions training course
• Working with colleagues, including the school management team, to review practice and supporting policies in the light of Young Epilepsy training
• Becoming a resource for colleagues in school, by sharing both their knowledge of epilepsy and classroom strategies
• Maintaining good links with Young Epilepsy
• Helping to leave a legacy of epilepsy awareness in the school
• Identifying further training needs within the school as they arise
• Making transition arrangements if the existing champion leaves the school

If you would like to register an interest in being part of this campaigning work please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Working across the UK

We already have School Epilepsy Champions in Surrey, Sussex, central and outer London and Worcestershire and are working towards training events in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Hampshire and Birmingham.

This work is already making a real difference to students with epilepsy and staff in our participating schools.

• The campaign has received its first positive comment in an Ofsted report
• Increased understanding has empowered several teachers to refer young people with previously undiagnosed epilepsy to their doctors
• Many schools have altered their monitoring arrangements for students with epilepsy
• Two teachers have attended a paediatric appointment to improve information sharing between school and health

If you are interested in joining our campaign and making a difference in your school or group of schools, contact our campaign team, they will be happy to help organise a training event for you.