Chronic health conditions and school absence, exclusions, and non-enrolment: a cohort study using the Education and Child Health Insights from Linked Data database.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Policies to reduce school absence can place a burden on children with chronic health conditions (CHCs). Although estimates suggest > 25% of children in England have a CHC before age 16, there is limited evidence on extent of absence, exclusion, and non-enrolment from school among children with CHCs.

Methods

We used all-of-England inpatient data (Hospital Episode Statistics) to identify groups of adolescents with CHCs from age 5 to 15. Cohorts were born in 2000/01 to 2002/03. Data were linked to England's National Pupil Database for secondary school (age 11 to 16) persistent absence (>1 month missed/year), exclusion, and non-enrolment to examine rates of each outcome by CHC groups.

Results

Of 1 456 361 children, 12.5% had a CHC from age 5 to 11, and 18.9% to

SUBMITTER: Jay MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12395948 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature