Fasting during Ramadan: supporting pupils

Understand what you can do and adaptations your school can make to support those pupils fasting during Ramadan, including during exams.

Last reviewed on 21 February 2024
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 31311
Contents
  1. Key dates
  2. Open the conversation with pupils
  3. Engage the rest of the school community
  4. Adapt to the needs of fasting pupils
  5. How to support pupils when sitting exams
  6. How to support pupils who become ill
  7. Examples of school policies

Key dates

The dates of Ramadan change each year, and so does the date of Eid-al-Fitr, the celebration at its end.

To check this year’s dates, access our interactive online calendar or check on this siteHowever, due to the date being determined by the moon's visibility, it's difficult to work out in advance the exact date, so dates between sources vary from 10 to 11 March 2024.

Open the conversation with pupils

Find out who's fasting

Make sure you know which pupils may need support during Ramadan. Ask parents/carers or pupils to speak to the school about it, so you don't make assumptions about who may be observing the fast.

You may want to ask for parental permission to allow younger pupils to miss lunch. 

Listen to fasting pupils

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