Access Compass guide
Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) and managing medical needs at school
Learn how to create a personalised healthcare plan for your child's medical condition and ensure schools fulfil their duties.
Published by Access Compass · How we research and check guides
Who it's for: Parents & carers, Professionals
Not yet verified Last checked 16 Jul 2026. Review due 15 Aug 2026. Always confirm details with the service before relying on them.
Visual explanations
These diagrams use real text, so the same complete information can be zoomed, selected, read aloud and printed.
Comparison guide · full text built in
Health documents: what each one does
A comparison of an annual health check, health action plan, hospital passport and individual healthcare or clinical care plan. The headings and lists that follow are the complete text equivalent of this visual.
-
Annual health check
-
A yearly primary-care check
For eligible people with a learning disability, this reviews health, medicines, screening and unmet needs. It is an appointment, not the emergency information document.
-
-
Health action plan
-
Actions after a health review
Records health priorities, agreed actions, responsible people and follow-up. Ask for an accessible copy.
-
-
Hospital passport
-
How to support the person in hospital
Summarises communication, reasonable adjustments, health risks, distress signs, medication and what helps. Keep it current and bring it to hospital.
-
-
Healthcare or clinical care plan
-
Condition-specific management
Sets out treatment, monitoring, medication, emergency actions and responsibilities in a setting such as school, home or a health service.
-
Printable and zoomable: this is structured text, not an image.
Step by step
-
Identify the need for an IHP
If your child's medical condition requires support, treatment, medication or changes during the education day, ask the school whether an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) is needed. An IHP is specific to the child and sets out the support, responsibilities and emergency steps; a diagnosis alone does not define the plan.
-
Request a meeting
Ask your child's SENCo or headteacher for a meeting with you and relevant health professionals to draft the IHP. Use the Department for Education's templates for healthcare plans and parental consent to administer medicine. Bring medical letters and care plans.
-
Agree training and responsibilities
The plan should state who will administer medicine, store medication, and call emergency services if needed. Staff must receive appropriate training from healthcare professionals (for example, on adrenaline auto-injectors or epilepsy rescue medication) and training dates should be recorded.
-
Review and update the plan
Review the IHP at least annually or whenever your child's needs change. Ensure the school keeps a record of medicine administration and that staff remain trained. For complex conditions, link the IHP to your child's EHCP or school behaviour plan.
Useful links
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3