Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Seventh Report - Persistent absence and support for disadvantaged pupils
Education Committee
HC 970
Published 27 September 2023
Recommendations
28
Rejected
Para 133
Lack of authorised mental health absence code burdens families with medical evidence.
Recommendation
Mental health-related absences are not commonly authorised by schools, sometimes due to requirements to provide medical evidence which can often lead to fines or prosecution for families. The introduction of an authorised mental health absence code could eliminate the need …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The Government rejects introducing a specific mental health absence code, arguing it would be unhelpful, burdensome for schools to differentiate illness types, and likely lead to inaccurate data, while affirming existing guidance for authorising mental health-related absences under the 'illness' code.
Department for Education
View Details →