Requests from Schools

Schools frequently request information from GPs regarding a child’s health conditions, their absence from school, or to certify that they were ill when sitting an exam.  Parents often are put under pressure from schools to get this information from practices, even though they themselves would be happy to write to the school on their child’s behalf.  This information sheet is aimed at reducing the workload burden for practices of these requests, and we recommend that practices use this as a resource for this purpose.

Requests for information about medical conditions

Schools have a duty to reduce non-attendance by pupils, as there is good evidence of the correlation between non-attendance and reduced academic achievement.  In the document “Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions”[1]  there is guidance for school governing bodies on how they can best support pupils who have medical conditions to attend school.  For schools to comply with this guidance it is important for them to understand the nature of a child’s medical condition.  The guidance states that GPs and other healthcare professionals should

“notify the school nurse when a child has been identified as having a medical condition that will require support at school. They may provide advice on developing healthcare plans.”

Thus, requests from schools for information about a child’s health conditions should be provided, as long as there is consent from the parents and child.  There is no fee applicable to this information.  These requests should be made by the school, and not the parents.

Requests for sick notes for absence from school

GPs do not provide “fit notes” for adults until they have been unable to work for seven days.  The “fit note” is also “designed to help you provide fitness for work advice to your patients”[2] so is not just a way to evidence that they are ill.  These rules should also apply to children who are absent from school.  Thus if a parent or school requests a sick note for a period of absence shorter than this we should decline.  There is a template letter available on the LMC website by clicking here which can be used to inform schools that this is the case.

If a child is absent from school for longer than seven days, the child may have a condition which may affect their long term ability to attend school, and thus more information may be needed by the school in accordance with the guidance above.  In this circumstance it would be advisable to discuss with the child, the parents, and the school, whether a “sick note” will best achieve the aim of supporting the child in returning to regular school attendance.

Requests for sick notes for missing exams

As a result of a number of practices and LMCs querying whether GPs are required to provide evidence that children were unwell and thus missed exams, the GPC wrote to Ofqual to get the official stance.  The response from Ofqual states

“Awarding Organisations make no requirement for pupils to obtain a medical certificate in support of an application for special consideration. Students are asked for information in support of their application, but this may take the form of a statement by the school.  The Joint Council of Qualifications (JCQ) has confirmed that as far as they are concerned, if a student was absent from an examination as a result of illness and has the support of the school or centre to be absent, special consideration will be granted in that basis.  Awarding Organisations do not insist that medical proof is provided”

Requests for authorisation to give medications

The “Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions” guidance states “no child under 16 should be given prescription or non-prescription medications without their parents’ written consent”.

This statement implies two things

• that GPs do not need to provide authorisation for medications to be administered by school staff, as this is the role of the parent
• that GPs do not need to prescribe medications which are available over-the-counter so that the medication can be administered in school, as non-prescription medication can be given with parental consent.

Requests from parents or schools to provide authorisation or prescriptions should be declined.

Maintaining good relationships with schools

The LMC recommends that practices endeavour to have good relationships with the schools in their catchment areas.  To this end we recommend that this guidance is discussed with school head teachers and school nurses so that they are aware of this advice.