Absence from School Scheme
Reimburses school fees and other expenses associated with a child’s long or short term absence from school, due to sickness or accident.
Parents select benefit level and deferment period. The Scheme is underwritten by Unum Limited (trading as Unum). For further information visit www.unum.co.uk.
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When your child is off school owing to sickness or an accident, clearly your priority is to see them back to full health. However, if his or her absence stretches to several weeks or occurs at a critical time before exams, you might also be worried about paying for specialist nursing care or extra tuition. In addition, one of you may have to take an extended leave of absence from work to care for your child.
Absence from School Cover is designed to reimburse you for these eventualities as well as covering the school fees you have paid while your child was absent.
The amount of contribution depends on the value of fees that you would like to protect and your choice as to how long your child will be off school (the Qualification Period) before benefits can be claimed.
What is the Qualification Period?
This is a continuous period (including weekends) of sickness or injury, which keeps your child away from school, after which you are able to make a claim. You choose the period of time most appropriate to you: either 7, 14 or 21 days. The longer the Qualification Period, the lower the contribution. Once a claim is paid, however, the full period of sickness (including the Qualification Period) is reimbursed. Please note that the period of absence will need to be verified by your child's school and general practitioner.
Features and Benefits
- The flexible design of the Scheme allows parents to select the level of benefit appropriate to their school fees and anticipated extra costs.
- The amount of benefit accrues weekly and benefits are paid monthly.
- Claims can continue into the holiday period.
- Claims will be paid at 75% of the normal rate if your child is in “The San”.
- Membership is fully transferable between fee-paying schools, and siblings at other fee-paying schools may also be covered.
- A term's fees in lieu of notice will be paid to your child's school should he or she be withdrawn for medical reasons.
- Membership is available untiil your child leaves school, provided that all contributions are up to date.
- Membership starts on the first day of the first term for which membership is chosen or after receipt by SFS Group of your application form and first contribution, whichever is the later.
Your Commitment
- To provide us with all relevant information when applying for membership of the Scheme and claiming benefits. If you do not do this, we may not pay your benefits.
- To pay all contributions as they fall due throughout your membership of the Scheme.
Risk factors
- The maximum claim period is three terms per condition.
- You will not be entitled to benefits if you do not make your contributions on time.
- Your plan has no cash-in value at any time.
- No benefit will be paid for any medical condition or injury for which the child has received medical attention prior to taking out membership of the Scheme.
| Approximate Benefit per term | Acutal Benefit per week | Qualification Period | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 day | 14 day | 21 day | ||
| Termly Contribution | ||||
| £2,000 | £168 | £20.00 | £14.00 | £10.00 |
| £2,500 | £208 | £25.00 | £17.50 | £12.50 |
| £3,000 | £250 | £30.00 | £21.00 | £15.00 |
| £3,500 | £292 | £35.00 | £24.50 | £17.50 |
| £4,000 | £333 | £40.00 | £38.00 | £20.00 |
| £4,500 | £375 | £45.00 | £31.50 | £22.50 |
| £5,000 | £417 | £50.00 | £35.00 | £25.00 |
| £5,500 | £458 | £55.00 | £38.50 | £27.50 |
| £6,000 | £500 | £60.00 | £42.00 | £30.00 |
| £6,500 | £542 | £65.00 | £45.50 | £32.50 |
| £7,000 | £583 | £70.00 | £49.00 | £35.00 |
| £7,500 | £625 | £75.00 | £52.50 | £37.50 |
| £8,000 | £667 | £80.00 | £56.00 | £40.00 |
Contributions and Benefits are reviewed, although not necessarily changed, annually. A term is classified as one of three periods of attendance at school during a school year, each lasting approximately twelve weeks.
Legal Structure of the Absence from School Scheme
The Absence from School Scheme is established as a trust for the benefit of its members and its trustee is SFTS Trustees Limited. The Trustee collects contributions, and pays benefits to members. To enable the Trustee to pay benefits as they fall due, it has chosen to insure its liability to pay benefits with Unum, a specialist insurer of such schemes.
Terms & Conditions
Click here to view the full Terms & Conditions for the Absence from School Scheme.