{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/783249.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":783249,"attributes":{"action":"Children not to be penalised for non-attendance due to medical appointments","background":"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.","additional_details":"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.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":16,"closing_date":"2027-04-26","created_at":"2026-09-29T13:44:08.475Z","updated_at":"2026-10-26T18:06:00.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-10-26T08:23:00.155Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-09-29T16:32:10.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Emma Linney","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":16}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Brentford and Isleworth","ons_code":"E14001124","mp":"Ruth Cadbury MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Christchurch","ons_code":"E14001171","mp":"Sir Christopher Chope MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Clacton","ons_code":"E14001174","mp":"Nigel Farage MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Corby and East Northamptonshire","ons_code":"E14001179","mp":"Lee Barron MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Frome and East Somerset","ons_code":"E14001241","mp":"Anna Sabine MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Ipswich","ons_code":"E14001302","mp":"Jack Abbott MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North West Essex","ons_code":"E14001402","mp":"Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP","signature_count":4},{"name":"Romford","ons_code":"E14001448","mp":"Andrew Rosindell MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Salisbury","ons_code":"E14001460","mp":"Rt Hon John Glen MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"South Basildon and East Thurrock","ons_code":"E14001480","mp":"James McMurdock MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Tonbridge","ons_code":"E14001549","mp":"Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":8},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":2},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":1},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":4}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}