When a child falls ill for a long time or has to go into hospital, your first thoughts are for their health and morale. Soon, though, a question comes up: how will they keep up with lessons, and how will the return to class go? The good news is that Belgium has several forms of support so that illness does not have to mean dropping out of school.
First step: tell the school
The school where your child is enrolled remains responsible for their education, including during absences. Let the class teacher or the head know as soon as you know the absence will last, and send in the medical certificate.
Ask in practical terms:
- how you will receive lessons, homework and test dates;
- which teacher will be your contact person;
- whether the PMS centre (CLB in Dutch-speaking schools) can help you organise what comes next.
The sooner the school is informed, the easier it is to set up the support described below.
In hospital: school carries on (type 5 education)
In French-speaking schools (Wallonia-Brussels Federation), many hospitals host a type 5 special education school, for pupils whose health is being cared for by a hospital, clinic or recognised medical and social institution. Flanders has the same kind of hospital schools (ziekenhuisscholen).
Your child stays enrolled at their own school: this is called “dual enrolment”. The hospital teachers work with the home school, which passes on the subject matter to cover. The type 5 school does not award qualifications: reports and certificates remain the job of the home school.
The pace follows the child’s health. When a hospital stay lasts several weeks, an individual learning plan can be drawn up with the parents, both schools and the PMS centre to prepare the return.
At home during recovery
In French-speaking schools, type 5 education can also continue where the child is recovering, sometimes at home depending on the region and the schools available. Ask the hospital school or your PMS centre.
Associations also step in. The non-profit “L’École à l’hôpital et à domicile” sends volunteer teachers, free of charge, to sick or recovering children at home, anywhere in Belgium.
Does your child attend a Dutch-speaking school, in Flanders or in Brussels? Then the rules of Flemish education apply. After 21 calendar days of absence due to illness or an accident, and at the parents’ request, the school must provide at least 4 lessons a week at home, subject to certain conditions (including distance): this is “tijdelijk onderwijs aan huis” (TOAH). The non-profit Bednet also lets pupils follow their class remotely.
Following class remotely
Staying in touch with classmates matters as much as the lessons. In French-speaking schools, the non-profit ClassContact installs, free of charge, a setup at the child’s home and in their classroom so they can follow lessons live from home or from hospital.
It is for pupils at schools of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, from nursery to the end of secondary school, absent for medical reasons for at least one month (consecutive or not).
For young people in hospital for a long time, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation’s distance learning service also offers online courses at primary, secondary and higher education level.
Insurance and health fund: check your policies
Some insurance policies (hospitalisation, family assistance) and some health insurance funds (mutualités / ziekenfondsen), through their supplementary cover, offer help when a child is ill at home. Cover varies widely from one policy to another and does not always include lessons.
The simplest approach is to reread your terms and conditions or call your broker, insurer or health fund as soon as the absence begins. Ask whether tutoring can be covered, on what conditions and with which supporting documents.
A pace that suits their energy
A sick child tires quickly, and treatment can affect concentration. A few pointers to support them:
- short sessions, at the times of day when they feel best;
- the key subjects first, agreed with the school;
- regular contact with classmates, by message or video call;
- a well prepared return to class, possibly gradual, with adjustments if their health requires it.
If the illness leaves lasting effects (fatigue, concentration difficulties), the school can put in place reasonable adjustments to make the return easier.
Picking up a little schoolwork, even one or two hours a week, often helps a child stay connected to school life and look ahead to the end of their recovery with more confidence. The doctor’s advice remains the guide for deciding when and how much.
A coach at home or online
When your child is well enough to work, private tutoring can complement the school’s support. At My Sherpa, an educational adviser chooses a coach suited to your child’s situation, in primary as well as secondary school.
Lessons take place at home anywhere in Belgium, or online if your child cannot have visitors. The coach follows the school’s curriculum and adapts the pace to your child’s energy. If your insurer or health fund contributes, we can provide a quote and detailed invoices for your claim.
Starting these steps early gives your child the best chance of returning to school calmly, at their own pace.
