Children with cancer lack education support

According to a study by children and young people’s cancer charity Clic Sargent, more than a third of primary school children are deprived of the support they need to keep up with their education during treatment.

More than 200 parents responded to the a survey by the charity, representing about a third of families with primary school age children receiving cancer treatment.

While 62 per cent said their child had received local authority-funded home tuition during cancer treatment, a number warned that this provision was blighted by cuts and delays.

Hospital schools told the charity that communication between themselves and primary schools was varied, while only 36 per cent of parents said their child’s primary school was in regular contact with their hospital school.

“Sometimes parents, already struggling to cope with their child’s diagnosis, have to fight to get the help their child needs – and they can feel really let down by the system,” said Lorraine Clifton, chief executive of Clic Sargent.

After retuning to school, 35 per cent of parents said their child had experienced bullying, and almost half said the child had grown apart from school friends, with the same number saying that the school did not help to maintain contact between peers during their child’s absence.

One parent told Clic Sargent their 13-year-old son had been called “baldy” on his return to school, after losing his hair because of treatment.

“Kai did feel isolated during treatment and when he was in hospital,” said Aimee Shersby. “He spoke to his friends on the phone, and emailed and Skyped them, so that he kept up his friendships.”

Clifton added: “No child should have to miss out on their education because they’ve had cancer – and it’s distressing to hear that some are teased and even bullied on their return to school.

“Funding can be an issue, so we are calling on government and local authorities to ensure children with cancer do not lose out on the home tuition they need because of any more funding pressures in the future.”

The study also sought the views of more than 30 four- to 11-year-olds diagnosed with cancer, with nine in ten saying treatment had made a difference to their school life.