School Program

Maintaining a routine is important for all kids, especially when they’re in the hospital. Our hospital school program helps children continue to make progress academically and can relieve some of the stress of a lengthy hospital stay by providing a bit of normalcy. Our school program can also communicate with a child’s home district to provide any pertinent recommendations, or advocate for necessary support to offer a smooth transition from the hospital to a child’s school or other educational setting.

How Our Program Works

Certified teachers work with patients, families, home school districts, and members of the patient’s care team to develop an appropriate instructional plan for each student.

Education sessions can then take place at a patient's bedside or in our hospital classroom, during normal school days and hours. The length of the sessions depends on many things, including the patient's health and emotional well-being.

Who Is Eligible

Children who are:

  • patients age 5-18 years
  • patients staying overnight in the hospital, missing school for 10 consecutive days or more
  • patients who have long hospital admissions or repeated hospital admissions over the course of a school year

Any member of your child’s care team can refer your child to the program.

For Rehabilitation Patients

Children who are inpatients of the Rehabilitation Service Unit or who participate in the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Outpatient Program are eligible for the school program from the first day of admission.

Educational sessions are held in the rehabilitation classroom at regularly scheduled times.

How You Can Help

Ultimately, our focus is on preparing your child for a smooth transition back into the classroom, which means we’re in constant contact with your child’s school teacher — gathering assignments and staying updated with classroom progress.

You can help most by:

  • supporting your child’s academic goals
  • having textbooks and assignments ready each week
  • keeping the school informed and updated about your child’s progress
    and return

Helpful Articles

For more information about keeping up with your child’s studies, check out these articles from Nemours’ KidsHealth.org, the #1 most-visited website in the world about children’s health:

Classroom Wish List

We provide school services for students in the hospital and for students attending our day rehabilitation therapy program. Take a look at our wish list and thank you for donating to our program.

Contact Us

School Program

Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware
Available at your child’s bedside or in the third-floor rehabilitation classroom.
Operates during regular public school hours.

Rehab Classroom
Fax:
(302) 651-4969

Our Special Education Teachers:

Sharon Miorelli
Phone:
(302) 651-4960
sharon.miorelli@nemours.org

Colleen O'Shea
Phone:
(302) 651-4966
colleen.o'shea@nemours.org

Jen Paoli
Phone:
(302) 651- 4961
jennifer.paoli@nemours.org

Lisa Mcgonagle
Phone:
(302) 651-4953
lisa.mcgonagle@nemours.org