School Epilepsy Champions
What is a school epilepsy champion
The Champions for Childhood Epilepsy Campaign is calling on all schools in the UK to nominate a School Epilepsy Champion
. The School Epilepsy Champion model was successfully piloted with 21 schools in Surrey and West Sussex.
Read the full Champions for Childhood Epilepsy Report of the pilot work undertaken with 21 schools.
School Epilepsy Champions can be drawn from across the school community. Existing Champions have been learning mentors, SENCOs, classroom teachers, teaching assistants, learning support staff, welfare staff, deputy and head teachers.
The nominated School Epilepsy Champion:
- receives training on epilepsy issues and classroom strategies in schools from Young Epilepsy
- is given a comprehensive delegate pack, including guidance on how to review school epilepsy policies and pro-formas for individual health care plans, recording seizures, and recording the use of emergency medication
- works with their colleagues, including the school management team, to review practice and supporting policy in the light of Young Epilepsy training and the campaigns Education Action Plan. Reviewing the schools supporting policy ensures that improvements are sustainable in the longer term
- becomes a resource for colleagues in their school, and can share their knowledge of epilepsy and classroom strategies
- maintains good links with Young Epilepsy, helps to raise awareness across the school and identify further training needs as they arise
Once the training is conducted and the policy and procedures are in place, the Young Epilepsy is able to provide official endorsement of the steps taken by your school. We will send your school a certificate. Ofsted have told us that they would place a value on seeing such work in any schools SEF.
Young Epilepsy will provide ongoing support for our School Epilepsy Champions as they work with children and young people with epilepsy in their schools.
Why nominate a school epilepsy champion
At Young Epilepsy, we know that schools and teachers often struggle to access the training and support they need in regard to children with a range of medical conditions. Research tells us that up to 50% of young people with epilepsy fail to achieve the educational levels predicted by their IQ.
Clearly all schools and teachers want to do their very best for all their students but without training and support that can be a real challenge. It can also be hard to afford (in terms not only of money, but of time) to sufficiently train staff. For these reasons the Champions for Childhood Epilepsy Campaign has developed this practical, effective and affordable model to help improve understanding and outcomes. Reviewing your schools epilepsy policies, ensures that best practice is embedded and sustainable in the long term.
Please complete the School Epilepsy Champion Nomination Form (77KB) (Word format 305KB) to nominate a champion in your school.
Download the School Epilepsy Champions Leaflet
School epilepsy champions training
There is training available to become a School Epilepsy Champion:
School epilepsy champions training for groups of schools
We can work with groups of schools to arrange School Champions Training at a time and place which is convenient to those schools, for a maximum of 30 delegates.
- View an outline of what is included in this training
Cost
Thanks to external donors, we can provide this training for free to groups of schools in outer London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent, provided that the schools are able to provide the venue, lunch and refreshments. In other areas across the UK we can deliver this training at a minimal price.
To book School Epilepsy Champions Training for a group of schools please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 01342 831 340.
Please complete the School Epilepsy Champion Nomination Form (77KB) (Word format 305KB) to nominate a champion in your school.
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