15 day sickness absence

Notification of Pupil Absence: 15 consecutive or cumulative days absence using Code I only

Schools are legally required to notify the local authority where pupils are coded I (illness) and who the school has reasonable grounds to believe will miss 15 days consecutively or cumulatively because of health needs. If a pupil is absent due to one, continuous illness, the school only needs to submit one notification to the Local Authority, even if the illness extends over a longer period than initially anticipated.

The rationale for the 15-day requirement is to help the school and local authority to agree any provision needed to ensure continuity of education for pupils who cannot attend because of health needs, in line with the statutory guidance on arranging education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs. This means that schools do not need to submit forms for children who are ill for a variety of minor ailments e.g. coughs, colds, sickness & diarrhoea.

There is no absolute legal deadline by which local authorities must start to arrange education for children with additional health needs. However, as soon as it is clear that a child will be away from school for 15 days or more because of their health needs (and there is medical evidence stating the child is unfit for school) the local authority should arrange suitable alternative provision.

Where possible, schools should continue to provide education to children with health needs who can attend school.

When a child is already attending school, there is a range of circumstances where their health needs can and should be managed by the school so that they can continue to be educated there without the need for the intervention of the local authority.

The local authority does not need to become involved in such arrangements unless it has reason to believe that the education being provided by the school is unsuitable.

In cases of both long term physical or mental ill health, school staff are not expected to diagnose or treat physical or mental health conditions, but they are expected to work together with families and other agencies with the aim of ensuring regular attendance for every pupil.

Medical evidence for recording absences should only be needed in a minority of cases (see Code I).

Where a pupil’s health need means they need reasonable adjustments or support because it is complex or long term, schools can seek medical information to better understand the needs of the pupil and identify the most suitable provision in line with the statutory guidance in supporting pupils at school with medical conditions:

Gov.UK: Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions

Or arranging education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs:

Gov.UK: Education for children with health needs who cannot attend school

This form is designed to assist schools to comply with their responsibilities. You may receive a follow-up call or email from a Local Authority Attendance Officer if further action is required. This form must be submitted to the Local Authority no later than 10 days after the last I code recorded.