UK Parliament home

Open Schools to allow absence exceptions for students with mental health struggles

Created by Jennifer Louise davey
Closes on

We call on the Government to mandate that schools must make exceptions to absence policies for children who struggle to attend school because of mental health issues, including due to recovering from trauma or due to SEND. In our view, schools must replace punishment with support.

We think we must stop penalizing parents and children for school refusal caused by mental health, trauma, SEND or abuse. The Government must fund timely mental health support, alternative education, and school-based support; ensure courts consider abuse, trauma, and disability before fines or imprisonment; and train schools and local authorities in trauma-informed approaches.

Sign this petition

57 signatures

Show on a map

10,000

Petition progress

View all updates for this petition, with the most recent first.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 16 September 2026.