School Illness Absence and Medical Evidence Policy

This policy applies to [school name], a maintained or academy primary or secondary school in England. It applies to illness absence notifications for all pupils.

Policy position

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

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

When evidence may be requested

The school may request reasonable evidence only where there is genuine and reasonable doubt about the authenticity of the illness, or where evidence is needed to support a pupil with prolonged or repeated patterns of illness.

Any request will be targeted, reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances of the pupil. A request will not be made solely because the pupil is absent through illness.

How the approach will be applied

The school will consider each illness absence notification on its circumstances. A parent notification will normally be sufficient. Where the circumstances meet one of the conditions in this policy, the school may explain why reasonable evidence is being requested and what evidence is needed.

The school will communicate this approach consistently to families through [family communication method]. Questions about an illness absence or an evidence request should be directed to [school attendance contact].

Review

This policy will be reviewed by [responsible role] in accordance with the school’s policy review arrangements.