Inclusion strategies for hospital education

Abstract

Although medical advances in recent decades have improved the lives of young people with chronic illnesses, social and educational challenges remain, and education remains critical to their development. Hospital schools support patients, mitigate the effects of hospitalisation and promote educational continuity. To this end, hospital teachers adapt teaching for patients and use innovative methods to support learning and emotional relationships. At the same time, the use of technology in schools has enabled ubiquitous and hybrid learning, extending education beyond the classroom and supporting hospitalised students. Indeed, distance learning and the use of technology help hospitalised students avoid isolation. Contact with nature can improve their well-being and engagement. These approaches require appropriate pedagogical strategies and consideration of the physical learning environment. Therefore, attention to the educational and social aspects is essential and requires personalised strategies that take into account both education and health. Schools need to support these pupils by promoting active learning and managing anxieties related to the external environment. The training of teachers who are adequately prepared to deal with these complex situations and to welcome the vulnerability of sick students is crucial.