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Supporting inclusion in education

Do you teach a young person with epilepsy? We’re here to help you understand epilepsy and how to keep your students living with epilepsy safe and included at school.

Children and young people have the right to education, to play and take part in childhood activities. But we know many children and young people living with epilepsy across the UK are being left out.

We campaign for students with epilepsy to be safe and included at school and college. We provide education professionals with information, training, and resources to support students in their care. We help young people, and their parents understand their rights.

Inclusion isn’t optional — it’s essential

Every young person deserves to feel like they belong. That means being part of the classroom, the playground, the sports field — and not left on the sidelines because of epilepsy.

We’re here to make sure schools and colleges know how to support young people with epilepsy, so you can learn, grow and thrive just like everyone else.

What does support look like?

Support can be a teacher knowing what to do during a seizure, or making sure learning isn’t disrupted by hospital appointments. It’s about understanding, flexibility, and making sure young voices are heard.

We work with schools to:

Provide guidance and training for staff
Share practical tools and resources
Promote inclusive education policies

How we help educators

We support educators to understand epilepsy and provide them with the information, training and resources to help children and young people with epilepsy to be safe and included at school.

FREE eLearning

Our free, on demand, eLearning courses are designed to increase the knowledge and confidence of professionals in schools and higher education.

Classroom resources

Resources to help educators build awareness, understanding and inclusion across the school.

Useful templates & tools

Access essential questionnaires and forms for parents and carers, and professionals, who care for children and young people with epilepsy.

Supporting young people with epilepsy

Important information, guidance and educational strategies for supporting children and young people with epilepsy to ensure they are safe and included in all aspects of school and college life.

Refer a pupil for support

If a child in your care is struggling because of their epilepsy, you can refer them for support by filling in this form.

Find out more

Why do children and young people need support to stay included?

Every child and young person has the right to education and play. Being fully included is key to achieving their ambitions and dreams. It sets them up for a life of stability and financial security, equality of opportunity, self-dependency, and confidence to be an active member of society.

Education and play is vital in developing a person’s personality, talents and abilities. They meet other children and young people, make friends and join social and sport groups. It is where they can access information and express their views and feelings.

Due to common misunderstandings about epilepsy, and what people mistakenly think it means someone can and can’t do, children and young people have been met with unnecessary barriers preventing them from doing all the things they are capable of. They often find themselves excluded from studies and exams. Missing out of sport, trips and social gatherings.

Unaddressed, this can isolate them from important developmental and life experiences and impact their mental health. As they grow up it could limit their social mobility, financial independence, and career progression. We’re here to help!

It is a schools’ responsibility to make reasonable adjustments, with the right support, understanding and an individualised approach, so that students can be safely included in all aspects of school and college life.

How can epilepsy affect learning and play?

Epilepsy is not only about the seizures. Epilepsy can have an impact on learning, behaviour and mental health. Epilepsy can affect each person differently. To keep a child or young person safe and included we must understand their seizure type, their triggers, their medication side-effects. Here are some examples of what could affect them:

Physical effects of epilepsy

Epilepsy is a condition of the brain, which causes seizures. There are many different types of seizure, and what triggers a seizure and how they recover can vary from person to person.
Seizures can be exhausting, some people take days to recover, and sometimes before or after a seizure they can feel anxious and very low in mood.
Some seizures may cause a person to fall to the ground or to have uncontrolled jerking in their arms and legs. This can cause injury, such as bruising, tongue biting and even broken teeth and bones.
Some people also have co-occurring conditions, such as autism, ADHD, and Dyspraxia. Find out more about all common co-occurring conditions.

The effects of medication

Seizure medications (ASMs) can help control seizures, but they may also come with side effects such as drowsiness, changes in mood and behaviour, difficulty concentrating and memory problems.

People at risk of prolonged seizures may be prescribed emergency rescue medication. This could mean that members of the education team need to be trained on how to administer the medication, to keep them safe and included whilst in their care.

Missing lessons

Epilepsy can affect a student’s attendance. Sometimes they may need to take time off for medical appointments. Also, it may take time for them to recover from a seizure, feeling exhausted and unwell, or they may have been injured.

Impact on learning, memory and behaviour

Memory, reading, spelling, numeracy and sequencing might be especially challenging for a student with epilepsy. They may have difficulties solving problems and organising, including planning and structuring work. They may have shorter attention spans, or experience absences that may look like a lack of concentration. They may need help in remembering homework, appointments and bringing the right equipment and kit to school. Find out more about impact on learning and behaviour.

Impact on mental health and wellbeing

Epilepsy is not a mental illness, yet many children and young people with epilepsy struggle with their mental health and wellbeing experiencing anxiety, loneliness and even depression. Find out more about the impact of epilepsy on mental health and wellbeing.

How can a child or young person with epilepsy be safe and included?

All students with epilepsy should have a current Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP). This allows schools and colleges to understand what epilepsy means for them as an individual and how they should be supported, so they can reach their potential.

An IHP is focused specifically on managing health conditions within the school environment. They are an opportunity for conversation between key stakeholders, such as the student, their parents, medical professionals and the school or college. IHPs are not funded or legally binding, but schools have a duty to support students with health problems. IHPs can be implemented quickly once a health need is identified, without a formal statutory process.

To find out more about Individual Healthcare plans

How we support young people and parents

We help young people, and their parents understand their rights and find the support they need.

Your education

School, college and uni can be tough enough without epilepsy to deal with, but you don't have to face it alone. Here, you’ll find everything you need to succeed, from finding out how your epilepsy may affect your learning, to understanding your rights at school.

Your child's education

If your child has epilepsy, you'll find everything you need to know about their education from early years settings, through school to further and higher education.You’ll also find information and resources on medical conditions, equality and safeguarding, training for teachers and pupils, and exam support.

Special education needs

In each part of the UK there are different systems in place to support children with special educational needs. This section gives an overview of the different systems in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with links to additional information and resources.

#UnderstandMy Epilepsy campaign

Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) are a lifeline. They help school staff understand each child’s epilepsy, ensure their safety, and pave the way for full inclusion in school life.

We are campaigning for every child with epilepsy across the UK to have an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) in place at school.

Find out more