Educational Support
Helping children with cancer stay connected to learning, friendships, and school life
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, school is often the first thing they lose and one of the things they miss the most. Hospital stays, treatment plans and reduced immunity can keep children away from their classrooms for long periods, creating gaps in learning, friendships, confidence and daily routine.
At Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund, we believe every child deserves to feel included, supported and part of their school community throughout treatment and recovery. Our Educational Support pillar ensures children and families are surrounded by understanding, practical help and opportunities to stay connected to school life, academically, socially and emotionally.
Our support includes innovative AV1 robots, reintegration support, educational workshops, teacher guidance and compassionate advice for schools facing bereavement. We help schools, classmates and families understand what a child is going through and how to confidently support them through every stage of their cancer journey. This work is led by our dedicated Schools Coordinator, who is a qualified teacher with hands-on experience supporting pupils with additional needs, transitions and emotional vulnerability. Her background ensures schools receive informed, practical and confident support tailored to each child.
AV1 Robots – Bringing School to the Child
Our AV1 telepresence robots act as a child’s “eyes, ears and voice” in the classroom, allowing them to join lessons from home or hospital. This helps maintain friendships, reduce anxiety and keep children connected both socially and academically.
School Support Programme – Support for the Whole School Community
Our School Support Programme provides practical and emotional support for children with cancer, siblings, classmates, teachers, pastoral teams, SENCOs, school leaders and parents.
We work closely with schools to create a coordinated support plan that includes classroom guidance, peer support, reintegration strategies and wellbeing resources.
Workshops and Assemblies: Awareness, Inclusion and Kindness
We visit schools to deliver engaging, age-appropriate workshops and assemblies that help create a supportive, informed and compassionate environment for pupils and staff.
These sessions focus on:
Supporting a Child’s Return to School
Returning to school after long absences or treatment can be overwhelming for a child. Changes in appearance, fatigue, anxiety and fear of standing out can affect confidence and wellbeing.
We help make this transition smoother by:
- preparing classmates with age-appropriate information
- providing teachers with practical guidance and reassurance
- supporting SENCO and pastoral teams
- creating phased return plans
- advising on reasonable adjustments for fatigue, mobility or cognitive changes
- supporting siblings emotionally and academically
Our aim is for every child to feel safe, understood and welcomed back into their school community.
Supporting Schools When a Child Passes Away
This is one of the most difficult and sensitive situations a school may ever face. Many teachers feel unsure how to talk about death, how to support their class or how to communicate with parents.
We provide compassionate guidance to help schools navigate this time, including:
- advice for teachers on how to speak with pupils
- classroom sessions to support children with grief
- resources for parents on talking about bereavement at home
- guidance for leadership teams on communication, memorials and safeguarding
- emotional support for staff
- support for siblings and close friends
We ensure that the child’s memory is honoured, the class is supported, and no school feels alone during this heartbreaking time.
Promoting kindness, empathy and inclusion
We help pupils understand how to support a friend with cancer, why a child may look or act differently during treatment, and how small acts of kindness can make a significant difference.
Supporting classmates emotionally
We help pupils navigate their own feelings such as worry, confusion or sadness when a friend or classmate is unwell.
Equipping teachers with confidence
We provide staff with guidance on:
- how to talk about cancer in a reassuring way
- managing sensitive questions
- reducing stigma and preventing bullying
- maintaining a supportive classroom environment
- supporting siblings and classmates through uncertainty
These workshops create a school environment where children feel understood, included and cared for.
Who We Support
Our Educational Support is available for:
- children and young people diagnosed with cancer
- siblings
- classmates
- teachers, teaching assistants, pastoral teams and school leaders
- SENCOs and support staff
- parents and carers
All support is free, flexible and tailored to each child, family and school.
Get Educational Support
If your child has been diagnosed with cancer, or if you are a school supporting a pupil through treatment, our team is here to help.
We will work with you to put the right support in place quickly and compassionately.
How we help
We are here to help children and their families through childhood cancer with our six pillars of support. Find out how we can help and support your family below.
