According to reports from BBC Cornwall, five-year-old Grace’s first seizure in March 2025 led her mother, Lyndsey, to campaign for mandatory epilepsy training across childcare settings in Devon and Cornwall after Biscovey Primary Academy successfully trained its staff to manage the neurological condition.
Grace’s Diagnosis and Early School Fears in Cornwall
Grace’s neurological condition first manifested in March 2025. According to mum Lyndsey, she was posing in a World Book Day costume when she stopped responding and stared off sideways before falling to the floor. Hospital staff treated the five-year-old, who required an extended period to recover speech and eye contact. Grace received her formal epilepsy diagnosis during the subsequent summer holidays. Epilepsy is defined medically as a brain condition causing repeated, unprovoked seizures due to sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity. While medication can prevent seizures, it does not cure the underlying condition.
Facing the transition to school in Par, Cornwall, Lyndsey researched online and encountered accounts of delayed school starts and part-time timetables for diagnosed children. Living with her mother, father Gareth, and eight-year-old brother Harry, Grace faced an uncertain educational path initially. Lyndsey stated she worried about safety and handing her daughter over to a school environment without adequate medical safeguards.
Biscovey Primary Academy’s Proactive Approach
Fears were allayed when Biscovey Primary Academy leaders met with Lyndsey and outlined a proactive and holistic plan. According to the school, staff received dedicated epilepsy training sessions, and Lyndsey participated to explain the specific nature of Grace’s seizures. Head Katie Bullock noted it had been wonderful to see Grace thrive during her first year. Lyndsey reported that although Grace experienced one seizure at school, staff handled it expertly thanks to their preparation.
Existing legislation requires schools to support pupils with medical conditions, and Department for Education statutory guidance dictates that governing bodies must ensure staff receive suitable training. Furthermore, Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a formal duty on schools to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. This framework typically includes an Individual Healthcare Plan detailing seizure types, when an ambulance should be called, who is responsible for providing support and what training staff require.
Charity and Family Calls for Mandatory Training
Despite current rules, charity Epilepsy Action argues that basic seizure response should be standard. Simon Privett, training and education lead at Epilepsy Action, described it as disappointing that no official legislation requires mandatory epilepsy training in schools, noting that one in 100 people in the UK live with the condition. Privett stated that every child with epilepsy deserves to feel safe and supported at school.
Did you know? Epilepsy affects approximately one in every 100 people in the UK. Biscovey Primary Academy received an Epilepsy Star award from Epilepsy Action after Lyndsey nominated the school for its comprehensive staff training program.
Lyndsey has expanded her advocacy beyond primary education. Having struggled to find safe summer holiday clubs, she is calling for all childcare settings in Devon and Cornwall to train their staff fully. Lyndsey remarked that her own professional first-aid training left her unprepared for the nuances of epilepsy until she completed specific education. Grace, meanwhile, understands her condition relates to electrical activity in the brain and continues her education without hesitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes repeated, unprovoked seizures due to sudden bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, according to medical definitions referenced in the reports.
What does current UK law require for students with epilepsy?
Under Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014, schools have a duty to arrange support for pupils with medical conditions. Department for Education guidance states that schools must create Individual Healthcare Plans and ensure designated staff receive suitable training.
Why are families and charities pushing for mandatory training?
Charities like Epilepsy Action and parents like Lyndsey argue that because children can experience their first seizure at any time in class, all childcare and school staff should be routinely trained to administer emergency medication and respond safely.
