School Attendance
Overview
Advanced notice of important changes to Fixed Penalty Notice fines with effect from 19 August 2024
With effect from the 19 August 2024, the law changes and Penalty Notices will increase. Penalty charges will be £160 if paid within 28 days reducing to £80 if paid within 21 days per parent/carer per child.
The National Framework for Penalty Notices introduces a new national limit of two penalty notices that can now be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling three year period. If a second Fixed Penalty Notice is issued to the same parent for the same child, within three years of the first Fixed Penalty Notice, the second Fixed Penalty Notice is charged at a flat rate of £160 if paid within 28 days.
Once two Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued, if a third unauthorised leave of absence occurs within a three year period, the Local Authority is able to move to prosecution immediately.
Parents have a legal duty to make sure that their child aged five to 16 attends school.
Parents and pupils are expected to work with school staff to improve and maintain regular school attendance, the school will offer advice and support around issues such as bullying etc. The school will do their best to help you and your child to improve their attendance prior to taking any formal action.
Facts about irregular school attendance
Regular absences from school can affect:
- attainment levels - the quality of school work and qualifications gained
- school routine - disrupting your child’s learning and that of the other pupils
- the chances of children and young people being involved in anti-social behaviour a child or young person’s general wellbeing and long-term life opportunities
- improving regular attendance at school is therefore a key priority, both locally and nationally
Taking your children out of school may affect their education, for example:
- They may find it difficult to catch up on work they’ve missed – for example, if they need to complete any GCSE coursework or if they’re due to take any exams or tests (SATs etc)
- Sometimes, if children already struggle with subjects such as Maths or English, they may find it even more difficult after they come back from holiday
- Young children may find it difficult to get back into their friendship groups after a break
- Missing time during the first year at a new school or the beginning of a term can lead to problems, for example, knowing what to bring to lessons, timetable mix-ups, making new friends etc
Parents have a duty under section 7 of the Education Act 1996 to ensure that their child receives full-time education suitable to their age, ability either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
Under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996, parents or carers may be taken to court and prosecuted if their child does not attend school regularly and their absences are unauthorised (or in other words, the school cannot or has not given permission for them to be off school)
In 2003, the Anti-Social Behaviour Act provided an alternative means of tackling non-attendance in schools. Under Section 23 of the Act, Local Education Authorities and other designated bodies were given the powers to issue Penalty Notices to parents or carers who are considered capable of, but unwilling to work towards improving their child’s attendance.
If your child has unauthorised or irregular attendance, then the school will notify us and we will either issue you with a warning or a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).
