This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Allow schools to use absence Code X for families at increased risk from Covid.
There is a clear and sustained rise in Covid-19 cases. We now have evidence it is spreading in schools. It is inhumane and cruel to expect families who are at an increased risk of severe Covid-19, or increased SEND/anxiety, to choose between fines/prosecution, risking their health, or deregistering.
More details
There are hundreds of families across the country who are currently being forced to choose between their health, lives and their children's ability to attend school. Where a family has a parent or child who is at an increased risk of severe Covid-19, or where a child has SEND/anxiety preventing them from accessing education due to the transmission risk, it should be open for school leaders to make an informed decision (having considered safeguarding issues) to authorise an absence using code X.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Related activity
MPs to debate school attendance during Covid-19
On Monday 2 November at 6pm, MPs will debate a petition about school attendance during Covid-19.
Watch the petition debate on Parliament's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/-ZzobZ2DyzY
Find out more about the petition debate: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/120342/mps-to-debate-school-attendance-during-covid19/
Further information
Find out more about the Petitions Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/
Follow the Petitions Committee on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HoCpetitions
Watch a short video about how petitions work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGEOraE08Jk
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Find out how to get involved in the work of Parliament: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/