Note justifying a pupil's absence from school (France)
Published byDocMuse
This document is in French
The PDF you download is in French — that is the language it has to be filed in, so it is not translated. Everything on this page is here to tell you what it says.
For a parent who must justify a child's absence from a French school, collège or lycée: a dated, signed note giving the pupil, class, dates and half-days missed, and the reason, chosen from those article L. 131-8 of the French Education Code recognises, with no health detail at all. The home-school notebook, the school's own slip or the ENT remain the usual free route; this template is for when they are not at hand or for an absence of several days. In French, handed to the school without delay.
- Made for use in France
- Last updated October 13, 2026
When to use this document
- Your child missed school in France and you need to give the school a note explaining why.
- Your child was away for several days for a family reason and the school wants a written explanation.
- The home-school notebook or the school’s own slip is not to hand and you need a signed note.
- You want a dated, signed absence note giving the dates and the reason, without any health details.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Pupil
- Class
- School
- Absent from
- Absent until
- Half-days missed (e.g. Monday morning)
- Parent
- Reason for the absence (one the law lists)
- City
- Date
Preview
This document is produced for you. Your answers are typed into it and the finished PDF is yours to keep.
Common questions
- Which reasons for a school absence does French law treat as legitimate?
- Article L. 131-8 of the French Education Code recognises five: the child's illness, a transmissible or contagious illness of a family member, a solemn family gathering, an impediment caused by an accidental breakdown in transport or communications, and the temporary absence of the persons responsible when the child goes with them. Any other reason is assessed by the education authority. The note need not name the illness: « maladie de l’enfant » is enough.
- How and when should an absence note reach a French school?
- Without delay: the law asks the persons responsible to tell the head the reason for the absence as soon as possible. Warn the school first by phone or through the ENT on the day if it asks you to, then hand in the note through the home-school notebook, the school's own slip or the ENT. These routes are free and are usually enough; this template completes them for a long absence or when they are not at hand.
- What happens after repeated unjustified absences from a French school?
- Repeated absences without a legitimate reason or valid excuse are reported by the school to the education authority, which may send the persons responsible a warning reminding them of their obligations, with support for the pupil. Justifying each absence avoids the report. A reason outside the legal list is not refused for that alone: it is assessed case by case, and talking to the school before a foreseeable absence is better.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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