Maintaining the Thread: Including Young Children with Chronic Illness in the Primary Classroom

Abstract

Young children with chronic illness who attend our early childhood facilities and schools have very special needs. They are more likely to encounter academic challenges and to have peer and emotional difficulties than are their healthy peers. As well, their families are frequently undergoing intense stress. The challenge to educators is to ensure that these children receive and maintain access to the same quality educational programs as their healthy peers. To gain further insight into this process, a study of parents and educators of children with a chronic illness was undertaken across Department of Education and Training Schools in NSW This paper examines concerns and recommendations from 53 participants. Recommendations for strategies to fully involve children with chronic illness in the primary classroom include teacher training and in-service, supporting student attendance, and caring and inclusive school communities.