Illness absence evidence policy

Purpose

This policy is intended for use by maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England. It explains how the school should respond when a parent notifies the school that a pupil is too ill to attend.

Policy position

The school will not routinely require parents to provide medical evidence to support illness absence and will not operate a blanket rule requiring such evidence.

In the majority of cases, the school will accept a parent’s notification that their child is too ill to attend without question or concern.

When evidence may be requested

The school may request reasonable evidence where there is genuine and reasonable doubt about the authenticity of the illness.

The school may also request reasonable evidence where it is needed to support a pupil with a prolonged or repeated pattern of illness.

Any request must be targeted, reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances of the individual pupil. The school will not use an evidence request as an automatic requirement for every illness absence.

Communication and questions

Parents should notify the school when their child is too ill to attend. Questions about the application of this policy should be directed to the [attendance contact role].

Applicability

This policy is intended to apply where adopted by a maintained or academy primary or secondary school in England. Its application remains subject to the individual circumstances of the pupil and the reason for any evidence request.