P164 Back to school - Supporting invasively ventilated children to return to the classroom

INTRODUCTION: Integration of children with high health needs into the education system, such as those who are invasively ventilated, requires careful planning. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data bases and medical records from January 2004 until December 2020 to profile school age children who, following insertion of a tracheostomy to facilitate invasive ventilation, required assistance in entering or returning to the education system. RESULTS: 44 children received invasive respiratory support. Five (11%) remain under the legal school age of 6 years. Fourteen (32%) children entered main stream education – Private or state schools. Three (7%) children attended main stream schools with extra assistance in a support unit. Eighteen (41%) children attended Special Schools that met their individual underlying health care needs. Four (9%) children received either home schooling or attended hospital school. All children received appropriate education according to cognitive ability and none were placed in an inappropriate school setting due to their need for extra support with respiratory health. DISCUSSION: High use of health technologies can be perceived as a barrier to the normal classroom so negotiation with education authorities should be part of the patient journey. Support for (re-)integration to the school system includes recruitment and training of support staff and appropriate assessments of ability to provide a safe environment whilst maintaining appropriate level of supervision. Collaboration between the hospital and the education facility is key to the successful integration of children into the education system.