Ramadan in Schools
Ramadan is the month of fasting in the Islamic calendar, when the Qur’an commands all healthy males and females to fast once they attain the age of puberty (for some children, this can be as young as nine). There are certain circumstances and conditions in which Muslims are exempt from fasting. The daily fast starts at sunrise and finishes at sunset.
The dates of Ramadan change each year, as does the date of Eid-al-Fitr, the celebration at its end.
We understand that, whilst fasting is not compulsory before the age of puberty in Islam, children are often encouraged to fast or indeed wish to fast to prepare them for adulthood. We do not encourage children in KS1 to fast.
A school’s role is to support pupils and staff who are fasting, and to create a welcoming environment where pupils can exercise religious freedom and make choices without judgement.
Our schools aim to:
- Provide a safe environment for children who wish to fast during part or all of the month of Ramadan;
- Ensure the proper care of children is maintained and keep parents informed if their child is unwell;
- Further develop understanding of the different faiths represented in the school population.
Procedure for Pupils Observing Ramadan
- All parents must inform the school in writing if they wish their child to fast for part or all of the month of Ramadan. Parents must complete a weekly ‘Ramadan fasting permission slip’ (below).
- If a child says that they are fasting, but the school has not received a permission slip from their parent, they will be dealt with in a respectful manner; however the child will not be allowed to miss lunch.
- Children who are fasting should not be expected to exert themselves physically.
- For Health and Safety reasons, pupils who are fasting do not do active physical education lessons at the time they are fasting. At this time they will do some health related learning.
- Children who are fasting will not be allowed to participate in rigorous activities such as running around at lunch time. They will be encouraged to make use of quiet areas on the playground in order to conserve their energy.
- All children that fast will need to bring an emergency snack with them to school daily. This should be something healthy in accordance to our Healthy Eating guidelines.
- In the rare circumstances of a child becoming distressed or unwell when he or she is fasting, the school will encourage the child to break their fast by eating their emergency snack and having a drink of water.
- If a child has a medical condition that would be complicated by fasting, e.g diabetes, the child will not be permitted to fast at school.
- The school will inform parents immediately if their child who is fasting becomes unwell.
- There is mutual co-operation between the parents of children who are fasting and the school.
- All children in the school are encouraged to feel positive about their family, their culture and their faith.