School support during and after treatment
Supporting a student with cancer is about finding balance — between keeping things normal and making space for what they're going through. The following tips can help you create a flexible, caring classroom environment that supports your student's learning, wellbeing, and connection with their peers, both when they're in class and when treatment keeps them away.
Maintain normalcy and treat the child as normally as possible while being flexible.
Communicate with parents and the healthcare team. Ask about what the child can and can’t do, and what support they might need.
Fatigue and absences may affect participation and performance. Adjust expectations and focus on effort, not only results.
Allow rest breaks, late assignments, or shortened school days; however, be aware of behavioural changes that may cause long-term challenges.
Encourage inclusion and help classmates to understand the illness. Use simple language and remain positive without making promises that you cannot keep.
Create a buddy system by pairing the child with a supportive peer to help them stay connected and share classroom notes – especially for the teenagers.
When the child is absent, keep them connected through video messages, cards with messages of hope, sharing artwork, a class journal or digital updates, use online learning tools or recorded lessons when possible.
When the child returns to school after absences, it is important to prepare the class honestly before the child returns (hair loss, physical changes, etc.), encourage classmates to ask respectful questions and reinforce kindness and understanding.
You don't have to navigate this alone. The articles and guides below come from trusted childhood cancer organisations and offer thoughtful, expert-backed advice for teachers. Whether you're preparing for a student's absence, supporting their return to school, or simply looking for the right words to say, these resources can help you feel a little more confident every step of the way.
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (n.d.). School support during serious illness.
CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA. 2017. Back to School.
American Cancer Society. (n.d.). How to talk to kids about cancer. A guide for teachers.
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