Appointments and Absences

Students with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may need to attend regular medical appointments, blood tests, scans, procedures or hospital visits.

These appointments can sometimes mean missing part of a school day, a full day or several days.

For students, repeatedly missing school can be frustrating. They may worry about falling behind, missing important lessons or having to explain their absence to classmates.

A supportive school environment can make returning to class much easier.

🏥 Understand that appointments are part of managing IBD

IBD can require ongoing medical care, even when a student is feeling well.

Appointments may include visits with:

• Gastroenterologists.

• Paediatricians.

• Nurses.

• Dietitians.

• Psychologists or other health professionals.

• Pathology or imaging services.

Some appointments may be routine, while others may happen because the student's symptoms have changed.

Try not to treat medical appointments as ordinary school absences that the student could simply avoid.

📅 Appointments may happen during school hours

Some appointments can't be scheduled outside school hours.

A student may need to leave school early, arrive late or miss an entire day.

Where possible, work with the student and family to minimise disruption, but recognise that medical care needs to come first.

The student shouldn't feel guilty about attending an appointment.

📚 Help them catch up without overwhelming them

After an absence, a student may return to a large amount of missed work.

Instead of giving them everything at once:

• Identify the most important work.

• Provide notes or resources where possible.

• Prioritise essential learning.

• Give them reasonable time to catch up.

• Avoid expecting every missed task to be completed immediately.

Sometimes doing less work, but focusing on the most important learning, is more manageable.

🧠 Remember that returning to school can be difficult

Coming back after an appointment or hospital stay can be emotionally and physically tiring.

The student may be:

• Tired.

• Worried about what they missed.

• Anxious about questions from classmates.

• Feeling behind.

• Still experiencing symptoms.

• Trying to settle back into their normal routine.

A calm welcome back can make a big difference.

They don't need to be questioned about where they've been or what happened.

🤫 Protect their privacy

A student's medical information is personal.

If classmates ask why they were absent, the student should be able to decide what they want to share.

Avoid saying things like:

"They were at the hospital because of their Crohn’s."

unless sharing that information is appropriate and has been agreed upon.

Instead, allow the student to answer for themselves or simply say that their absence is private.

📝 Absences during a flare

Sometimes an absence isn't planned.

A student may wake up feeling unwell and be unable to attend school.

During a flare, they may have:

• Frequent diarrhoea.

• Abdominal pain.

• Significant fatigue.

• Urgent toilet needs.

• Other symptoms that make attending school difficult.

Try to avoid making the student feel as though they have let the school down.

Their absence may be necessary because of their health.

🔄 Keep communication simple

Regular communication between the school, family and student can help everyone understand what is happening.

Depending on the student's age and circumstances, this might include agreeing on:

• How absences will be communicated.

• How missed work will be provided.

• Who the student can contact about schoolwork.

• What happens when they return.

• When additional support may be needed.

The aim is to make the process predictable rather than creating extra stress.

🏫 Consider the bigger picture

Frequent absences can have an impact beyond missed lessons.

A student may miss:

• Tests and assessments.

• Group projects.

• School events.

• Sport.

• Excursions.

• Social activities.

• Important classroom routines.

Where possible, help them stay connected with their classmates and school community, even when they aren't physically at school.

🌱 Practical Return-to-School Plan

When a student returns after an appointment, flare or hospital stay, a simple plan can make the transition back to school much easier.

Before they return

☐ Find out whether there are any temporary changes to the student's needs or school routine.

☐ Check whether their health or support plan needs to be updated.

☐ Identify the most important work they missed.

☐ Let relevant teachers know what support is needed, while respecting the student's privacy.

☐ Consider whether the student may need a gradual return or additional rest.

On their first day back

☐ Welcome the student without making their absence a public discussion.

☐ Check in privately and ask how they are managing.

☐ Make sure they know who they can go to if they need help.

☐ Don't give them a large pile of missed work to complete immediately.

☐ Prioritise essential learning and upcoming deadlines.

Over the following days

☐ Give the student reasonable time to catch up.

☐ Adjust deadlines where appropriate.

☐ Check whether fatigue or ongoing symptoms are affecting their learning.

☐ Help them reconnect with classmates and normal classroom routines.

☐ Communicate with the appropriate school staff and family if concerns continue.

Most importantly

The first day back should not feel like a punishment for being absent.

Welcome them back, find out what they need and help them take the next step — one piece of work at a time.

❤️ Remember

Medical appointments and absences are part of living with a chronic condition like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Support the student's health first, help them prioritise what matters academically and make returning to school feel manageable.