Illness absence support and review record
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 7 October 2026
- Reviewed
- 7 October 2026
- Audience
- Attendance leads, school staff and other authorised professionals in maintained and academy schools in England.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Blank fields · read-only preview
Use this record when illness, including physical or mental-health-related illness, causes absence. Complete the additional support and review sections when the absence is long-term or recurring.
Pupil and record details
Pupil name
RequiredEnter the pupil's full name.
Full name
Pupil school or admission reference
RequiredUse the school's existing reference for the pupil.
Reference
Year group or class
RequiredRecord the pupil's current year group or class.
Year group or class
Date record opened
RequiredEnter the date this record was created.
- Day
- Month
- Year
Record completed by
RequiredEnter the name and role of the person completing this record.
Name and role
Illness absence and notification
First date of illness absence
RequiredEnter the first date on which illness caused the pupil to be absent.
- Day
- Month
- Year
Number of school days absent in this episode
RequiredEnter the number of school days absent for this illness episode.
Number
Minimum: 1 · Maximum: 366
Type of illness reported
RequiredSelect all categories that apply. Do not record more detail than is necessary for attendance support.
Choose all that apply
- Physical health-related illness
- Mental-health-related illness
- Both physical and mental-health-related illness
- Illness reported but type not specified
- Other
If other, please specify
First-day notification status
RequiredRecord whether the school received notification on the first day the pupil was unable to attend due to illness.
Choose one
- Notification received on the first day
- Notification received after the first day
- No notification received
- Status unknown
Date notification was received
Complete if notification was received. Leave blank if no notification was received or the date is unknown.
- Day
- Month
- Year
Absence pattern
RequiredSelect the pattern that best describes the current record.
Choose one
- Single illness episode
- Long-term illness absence
- Recurring illness absence
- Pattern not yet clear
Absence details
RequiredSummarise relevant attendance information, including dates or recurrence where helpful.
Attendance and absence details
Applicable illness code
RequiredUse the applicable attendance code for illness, not medical or dental appointment.
Choose one
- I — Illness (not medical or dental appointment)
- Another code considered—explain below
Code notes
Complete if another code was considered or if the coding decision needs explanation.
Coding explanation
Long-term or recurring absence review
Is the additional review and support section applicable?
RequiredComplete this section when illness absence is long-term or recurring.
Choose one
- Yes — long-term absence
- Yes — recurring absence
- No — not currently long-term or recurring
- Uncertain — review needed
Date family was contacted for review
Complete when the long-term or recurring absence review is applicable.
- Day
- Month
- Year
Barriers to attendance identified
Complete when the additional review applies. Select all relevant barriers identified with the family or other agencies.
Choose all that apply
- Symptoms or health condition
- Treatment, recovery or appointments
- Anxiety, distress or other emotional barrier
- School environment, routine or transition
- Access, transport or practical arrangements
- Family or home circumstances
- Coordination with other agencies
- No barrier agreed or identified
- Other
- Other
If other, please specify
Barrier detail
Complete when the additional review applies. Record the relevant detail and any information provided by the family or other agencies.
Barrier detail
Other agencies involved or consulted
Complete when applicable. Record only agencies relevant to identifying barriers or supporting attendance.
Choose all that apply
- Health service or clinician
- Mental health service
- Local authority service
- Social care
- Early help or family support
- Education or specialist education service
- None
- Other
- Other
If other, please specify
Support offered or put in place
Complete when the additional review applies. Select all support offered or put in place to address identified barriers.
Choose all that apply
- Agreed regular contact with the family
- Adjusted timetable or phased return
- Planned return-to-school arrangements
- Pastoral or wellbeing support
- Learning access or catch-up support
- Reasonable adjustments to school arrangements
- Referral or liaison with another agency
- Information or guidance provided
- No support put in place yet
- Other
- Other
If other, please specify
Support detail
Complete when support has been offered or put in place. Describe what will happen, who is responsible and any arrangements agreed with the family.
Support arrangements
Actions agreed
Complete when the additional review applies. Record specific actions, responsible people and expected timescales.
Action, responsible person and timescale
Next review date
Complete when a further review is planned.
- Day
- Month
- Year
Review outcome
Complete after a review of long-term or recurring illness absence.
Choose one
- Support continues as agreed
- Support revised
- Further action with another agency identified
- Return or increased attendance planned
- No change agreed at this review
- Review not completed
- Other
If other, please specify
Review outcome notes
Record the outcome, any family views, unresolved barriers and the next agreed step.
Outcome notes
Record completion status
RequiredConfirm the status of this record.
Choose one
- Open—further action or review required
- Monitoring—support or attendance being monitored
- Closed—no further action recorded at this time