Petition
Protect families from being penalised for acting responsibly during illness.
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
We want the Government to change school attendance laws and guidance so parents are not fined for keeping children off school due to contagious illness, and to require schools to prioritise protecting vulnerable pupils.
My daughter is one of many children who need extra protection because of her immune system. For families like ours, something as common as a cold or flu can be serious.
Right now, parents can feel pressured to send unwell children into school to avoid fines. That puts vulnerable children at real risk.
No parent should have to choose between doing the right thing for public health and facing a penalty.
Right now, parents can feel pressured to send unwell children into school to avoid fines. That puts vulnerable children at real risk.
No parent should have to choose between doing the right thing for public health and facing a penalty.
Why it was rejected
The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.
Statutory guidance on school attendance and absence already states that students can miss school if they are too ill to attend that day and that schools should not penalise parents during this scenario.
Timeline
| 30 Mar 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 27 Apr 2026 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
27 Apr 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 27 Jul 2026.