Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of school attendance policies and attendance reward schemes on pupils with serious or chronic health conditions, including those undergoing treatment for cancer.

Our ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance recognises that pupils with additional needs, including serious or chronic health conditions, may face complex barriers to attendance. Schools should take a sensitive, ‘support first’ approach.

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​Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 requires maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to support pupils with medical conditions. The ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’ statutory guidance makes clear that pupils should be properly supported and not penalised for absences related to their condition, such as hospital appointments. Schools should work with families to understand barriers and provide appropriate support or reasonable adjustments.

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​The department does not prescribe how attendance rewards or incentives should operate. Where schools link attendance to activities, we expect them to act carefully, proportionately and without discrimination, ensuring schemes are inclusive and appropriate for all pupils, including those with disabilities or long-term health conditions.