Open petition: Children not to be penalised for non-attendance due to medical appointments

Created by Emma Linney
Closes on 26 April 2027

Medical appointments are essential healthcare, not truancy. We believe children should not be penalised for GP/hospital/dental visits affecting their attendance. Good health supports learning — necessary appointments are unavoidable and must not lead to penalties.

Medical appointments are essential — they are not truancy. GP, hospital and dental visits are often unavoidable and cannot always be scheduled outside school hours. Marking these as absences harms a child’s attendance percentage, risks penalties, and creates unnecessary worry for families. Children cannot thrive if their health needs are neglected. The Government must issue robust guidance to ensure that these appointments are excluded from all penalties arising from attendance calculations. No child should be penalised because they need to see a doctor.

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