This tool is a guideline for managing a student’s return to school following a concussion and does not replace medical

advice. Timelines and activities

Return to School may vary by direction of a health care professional.

AT HOME AT SCHOOL
STAGE 1: STAGE 2: STAGE 3: STAGE 4: STAGE 5: STAGE 6:
Physical & cognitive Start with light When light cognitive Back to school Part-time school Full-time school Full-time school
rest cognitive activity: activity is tolerated: part-time Increase school Full days at Full days at school,
• Basic board games, Gradually increase Introduce school work. Part-time school time with moderate school, minimal no learning
crafts, talk on phone cognitive activity up to Prior activities plus: with maximum accommodations. accommodations. accommodations.
• Activities that do not 30 min. Take frequent • School work as per accommodations. Prior activities plus: Prior activities plus: • Attend all classes
increase your heart rate breaks. Return to School plan Prior activities plus: • Increase time at school • Start to eliminate • All homework
or cause you to break a Prior activities plus: • School work at school • Decrease accommodations • Full extracurricular
Communicate with
sweat • Reading, TV, drawing as per Return to School accommodations • Increase homework to involvement
school on student’s
Limit/Avoid: • Limited peer contact progression. plan • Homework – up to 30 60 min./day • All testing
• Computer, TV, texting, and social networking No: min./day • Limit routine testing to No:
video games, reading Contact school to create • P.E., physical activity • Classroom testing with one test per day with • full participation in P.E.
No: Return to School plan. at lunch/recess, adaptations adaptations or sports until Return
• School work homework, testing, to Sport protocol
No: No: completed and written
• Sports sports, assemblies, • P.E., physical activity at • P.E., physical activity at medical clearance
• Work field trips lunch/recess, sports, lunch/recess, sports, provided
• Driving until cleared Communicate with standardized testing standardized testing
by a health care school on student’s Communicate with
professional progression. school on student’s Full academic load
progression.
No:
• School attendance
Work up to full
• Sports
days at school,
• Work Increase school minimal learning
work, introduce accommodations
School work only homework,
at school decrease learning
Gradually add cognitive activity including accommodations
Rest school work at home

When symptoms start to Tolerates 30 min. of Tolerates 60 min. of Tolerates 120 min. of Tolerates 240 min. of Tolerates school full-
improve OR after resting cognitive activity, school work in two 30 cognitive activity in 30- cognitive activity in 45- time with no learning Return to School protocol
for 2 days max, introduce school work min. intervals, 45 min. intervals, BEGIN 60 min. intervals, BEGIN accommodations completed; focus on
BEGIN STAGE 2 at home BEGIN STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 BEGIN STAGE 6 RETURN TO SPORT

Note: A student is tolerating an activity if symptoms are not exacerbated. Adapted from the Return to Learn protocol by G.F. Strong School Program (Vancouver School Board), Adolescent
and Young Adult Program, G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre.

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© BCIRPU. All rights reserved | Version 12: Updated March 2019