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Parent guide · England

School asking for a GP letter for anxiety-related absence: what parents can do

Updated 6 September 2026 · Written by Stephen Mallett, former Headteacher and SENCo

If school has asked for a GP letter while your child is struggling to attend because of anxiety or distress, it can feel as if you must prove everything before anyone will help. Start smaller: tell school what is happening, keep a factual note and ask what practical support will be considered now.

A clear answer about medical evidence

Department for Education guidance says that schools must record an absence as authorised where a child cannot attend because of illness, including mental-health-related illness. It also says there is no need to routinely request medical evidence for a one-off absence related to mental health. For repeated or longer-term absence, information from a health professional may sometimes help school and other services understand what support is needed.

That does not mean a parent has to solve every question before contacting school. It is usually better to communicate early, describe the current difficulty factually and ask for a support conversation while you seek any health advice that is appropriate for your child.

What to ask school if it requests a GP letter

1. Ask what information the school needs. Request a short written explanation of what the letter is meant to clarify and who will use it.
2. Ask what support is being considered now. A letter should not replace a conversation about current barriers, reasonable adjustments, pastoral support or a named contact.
3. Ask for the attendance plan in writing. Clarify how the school will communicate with you, what will be tried first and when the plan will be reviewed.
4. Keep a factual record. Note the dates affected, your child’s observable experience, contacts with school, appointments and the outcomes of any agreed steps.
5. Share only what is relevant. You can explain the attendance difficulty and ask for support without trying to write a full clinical history in an email.

What to say in your first message

Keep it short. You might write: “My child has been unable to attend on [dates] because they are experiencing significant anxiety/distress around school. We are seeking appropriate advice. Please confirm who will be our named contact and when we can discuss a short, practical support plan.”

You do not have to decide whether a particular label fully explains the difficulty. Focus on what school needs to know today: the attendance pattern, what your child is showing or saying, any known barriers and the next conversation you are asking for.

When the difficulty is continuing

If the pattern becomes prolonged or the question shifts from tomorrow’s attendance to whether your child is receiving suitable education and support, keep the record factual and ask one clear question at a time. Depending on the circumstances, it may be useful to seek local SENDIASS support and appropriate health advice. The Hub’s attendance action path and free letter tool can help you organise a written request.