Understanding GP Support for School Attendance Issues
We know that many parents and carers reach out to us when their child is struggling with school attendance due to anxiety, mental health concerns, or other health reasons. Schools sometimes indicate they need a doctor’s letter confirming that part-time education is in the child’s best interests before they can approve reduced attendance. While we completely understand how stressful this situation can be for families, there are some important limitations on what we as GPs can provide.
What GPs Can and Cannot Certify
GPs are not able to provide sickness certification for school absences or formally approve part-time education arrangements. The responsibility for managing attendance and determining whether absences are legitimate sits with parents, carers, and the school itself.
For short-term illnesses (under 7 days), schools should accept a note from the parent or guardian—there’s no requirement for GP involvement. If your child was seen by one of our GPs during their illness and the school requests evidence, we can provide a printout of that consultation, though schools shouldn’t actually need this.
For children with long-term conditions requiring ongoing support or adjustments during the school day, certification can only come from the specialist clinician managing their care.
In cases of frequent short-term absences, the school’s pupil entitlement team should work directly with you and your child to find appropriate solutions.
How We Can Help
Our GPs are absolutely here to support your child’s health and wellbeing. We’re happy to see any child who needs ongoing care, and we can make referrals to the wellbeing team, CAMHS, or paediatrics when appropriate. What we can provide is a printed summary of the health concerns documented in your child’s medical record and copies of relevant consultations.
We appreciate how challenging these situations are for both children and their families, and we’re committed to supporting your child’s health within our professional scope.