School Asking For Medical Evidence

[ChattyDad]

Looking for some advice, my daughter has had a fair bit of time off school this year due to health issues. Her school haven’t been very understanding and are now asking for medical evidence each time she’s off.

During a meeting with the school they threatened fines and convictions if the evidence wasn’t supplied.

I don’t have a problem providing the evidence as such, although it’s a bit of a hassle.

The thing that I wasn’t happy about was that they said the requirement for medical evidence will continue in the next academic year? The reason they ask for it is due to low attendance, so surely this resets each year?

I’ve also read that school can’t ask for evidence too often, does anyone have any experience or advice regarding this please?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1099677/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance.pdf

Have you read this? Gov guidelines on absence.

At the very end, it states:

Code I: Illness (not medical or dental appointment)

219. Schools should advise parents to notify them on the first day the child is unable to attend due to illness. Schools must record absences as authorised where pupils cannot attend due to illness (both physical and mental health related).

220. In the majority of cases a parent’s notification that their child is ill can be accepted without question or concern. Schools should not routinely request that parents provide medical evidence to support illness.

Schools are advised not to request medical evidence unnecessarily as it places additional pressure on health professionals, their staff and their appointments system particularly if the illness is one that does not require treatment by a health professional.

Only where the school has a genuine and reasonable doubt about the authenticity of the illness should medical evidence be requested to support the absence.

We’ve been routinely asked to supply “ evidence” by our school. At one point, we had to speak to our GP surgery and the Practice Manager there said the school were incorrect and that the Drs would not be assisting with this ( plus school could ring him and he’d explain why the NHS could not support this).

We’ve also had the school tell parents that they can’t use the illness register code without evidence - which is incorrect.

We’ve quoted the Gov guidelines back to the school and asked if they have “ a genuine and reasonable doubt about the authenticity of the illness” because otherwise they should not be routinely asking for evidence ( and can certainly use the illness register code).

It’s complete rubbish and all born out of the pressure on schools to have high attendance figures.

Doesn’t allow for families with a child with ongoing medical problems or for the fact that some kids just catch more things than others or take longer to recover. Or quite how you are supposed to provide evidence of a d&v bug or a bad cold that makes you too unwell to be in school or work but you wouldn’t be bothering a Dr with.

Schools aren’t following the published Gov guidelines on this and more parents should know.

Of course, if there are concerns about a student and it requires further investigation and support for the family then that’s what the checks and measures should be for. But routinely asking for “evidence” each time a child is ill is pointless and places extra stress on parents when they are already dealing with illness.

Schools should not be doubting parents on whether a child is ill and asking for “evidence” unless they have a genuine concern and cannot take the word of the parent. And even then, as the Gov doc says, it should be about working together to look at why the child is absent - not threats of fines and convictions if it is due to illness.

Thank you @SquitMcJit for you replies and the links, some really good information there.

I'm going to stand my ground in the next school year as it's really causing me a lot of stress.

:)

Glad it’s useful.

Totally understandable you’ve felt stressed. It’s really stressful for parents feeling like your word is being doubted and having to find “evidence” - sometimes when everyone in the house is ill.

Plus the stress on kids when they aren’t getting attendance rewards - but they can’t help being unwell!

It seems to be a one size fits all approach and is just about pressure on attendance figures. At times, we’ve caved and sent a photo of a prescription (if we’ve had one) and it has felt really pointless and like a concession to a stupid system but we’ve been too worn down with it.

If it’s an ongoing condition/situation is it worth sending a brief email at the start of term stating that she may continue to be off with xxxxxx ( which the school is already aware of) and that, following discussions last year, you will always inform the school and provide details of her illness and that you will want absences to be marked as authorised using the I code in the register. They can be reassured that your child would never be off school unless you as their parent had deemed them to be too unwell to be in - but you will not be routinely providing evidence as that is not what the government guidelines say that parents should be doing ( and quote it).

They might just ignore it and carry on but you would have evidence you’ve been reasonable and have been in communication with them about this issue should they start threatening fines etc again.

Each and every time is indeed unreasonable and as has been said they can't expect this. If there's an overarching reason do you have anything you'd be happy to supply? DS used to be off a fair amount and we just showed them a letter from his consultant which meant we didn't get pulled up on it over and over.

@ChattyDad have you seen this new thread? Lots if people with the same issue and lots of advice:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4848200-unauthorised-absences-wtf-are-we-supposed-to-do?page=1

Some schools are obsessed about attendance figures mainly from an arse-covering perspective.

Here's a cracker for you:

Ds13 spent 4 months out of his special school. They couldn't meet need and County refused him a place at a severe learning disability school because he is verbal.

We moved house 200 miles away, largely to find a special education that he could access. While waiting for a school place, his old school demanded proof he was alive, every day, rather than every 14 days as is standard practice.

They sent a social worker, school attendance officer and even tries to send the Police (who refused!).

There has never been any safeguarding concerns and the first thing we did when we moved was contact SS because we do desperately wanted help and support.

Anyway, I learnt that school was trying to deflect their failure onto us, by casting us as unsupportive parents.

It usually comes from the Head - pen-pushers first and caring human beings second.

At my son's new special school the Head is bloody awesome - no guff, just understanding and a practical approach to meet need.

@SquitMcJit excellent link, thank you

@nobodysdaughternow Sorry to hear about your terrible experience and that you had to go to such extremes to get help! It seems the system is well and truly broken.

It's good to hear your son is happy now though.

I always think it’s a good idea to work with the school. If your child has a medical condition that means attendance is tricky, could you set up a medical plan with the school? Could include strategies and expectations to try and improve attendance. Also, if they require long term medication, this can be on the plan. The school nurse will often help to write these plans.