Medical Appointments and Attendance

We understand that there will be times when students need to attend medical, dental or hospital appointments during the school day. However, wherever possible, appointments should be arranged in a way that minimises the amount of education your child misses. 

A student’s attendance is recorded during the school’s morning and afternoon registration sessions, at 8:30am and 12:30pm. This means the timing of an appointment can have an impact on your child’s attendance record. 

Where you have a choice of appointment time, we encourage parents and carers to arrange appointments outside of the school day wherever possible. If this is not possible, choosing a time that allows your child to attend school for as much of the day as they can will help to minimise lost learning. 

For example, an appointment later in the morning does not usually mean that your child needs to miss the whole morning. Please send them into school first and collect them from Reception when they need to leave for their appointment. Similarly, where an appointment finishes with sufficient time remaining in the school day, we ask that students return to school afterwards. 

We recognise that appointment times are not always within a family’s control, particularly for hospital or specialist appointments, and we will take this into consideration. 

Notifying Use of a Medical Appointment

If your child has a medical appointment during the school day, please let us know as far in advance as possible. 

You can notify us through ParentMail, by emailing studentabsences@denbigh.net, or by calling 01908 330536 and leaving a voicemail. 

Please provide your child’s name, the date and time of the appointment, and, where possible, the approximate time they will need to leave school and whether they are expected to return afterwards. 

We may also ask you to provide evidence of the appointment, particularly where the appointment requires your child to miss a significant part of the school day or the full day.

Providing Medical Evidence

We may ask parents and carers to provide evidence of a medical appointment so that we can ensure the absence is recorded accurately. 

Evidence can include an appointment letter, appointment card, text message, email confirmation or screenshot from a healthcare provider. This can be submitted when you notify us of the appointment or sent to studentabsences@denbigh.net. 

Where a medical appointment results in a full day’s absence, we may ask for further information or evidence to help us understand why your child was unable to attend school before or after the appointment. 

We understand that not all appointments will come with formal paperwork, so if you are unsure what evidence is required, please contact the Attendance Team. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need to take the whole day off for a medical appointment? 
Usually, no. We ask that students attend as much of the school day as possible. If the appointment is later in the day, your child should attend school beforehand and be collected from Reception when they need to leave. Where possible, students should return to school following their appointment. 

What if I cannot choose the date or time of the appointment? 
We understand that hospital and specialist appointments are often allocated by the healthcare provider and families may have little choice over the date or time. Please let us know as soon as possible and provide evidence of the appointment where available. 

How will a medical appointment affect my child’s attendance? 
Attendance is recorded during the school’s morning and afternoon registration sessions at 8:30am and 12:30pm. Depending on the timing of the appointment and when your child is in school, a medical appointment may therefore affect their recorded attendance. This is why we encourage students to attend school before and/or after appointments wherever possible. 

What evidence can I provide? 
Evidence can include an appointment letter or card, text message, email confirmation or screenshot from the healthcare provider. If you are unsure whether the evidence you have is sufficient, please contact the Attendance Team. 

What if my child has regular or ongoing medical appointments? 
Please contact the Attendance Team so that we are aware of your child’s circumstances. Where appointments are ongoing, we can work with you and your child’s pastoral team to understand their needs and minimise the impact on their education wherever possible. 

How do I arrange for my child to leave school for an appointment? 
Please notify us of the appointment in advance through ParentMail, by emailing studentabsences@denbigh.net, or by calling 01908 330536 and leaving a voicemail. Your child can then be collected from Reception at the appropriate time. 

What if my child is unable to return to school after their appointment? 
If your child is unable to return because of their medical needs or treatment, please let us know. Where this results in a longer or full-day absence, we may ask for supporting medical evidence.