School absence

School absence is proven to have a significant negative impact upon a child’s educational fulfilment and further education. This can lead to many issues such as:

• Fall behind with their schoolwork
• Do less well in their exams
• Miss out on social interaction and necessary life skills 
• Be involved in antisocial behaviour or crime
• Future acceptance of jobs/college/university

Regular attendance is not only a legal requirement but is essential for children/young people to maximise their educational opportunities.

 

Penalty Notices

A national Framework for penalty Notices for school absence, including unauthorised holiday absence, is being introduced following changes to the law. These new government regulations will come into effect from 19th August 2024.

 
What are these changes?

  1. There will be a new national threshold of 10 unauthorised sessions for any reason (equivalent to 5  school days) within a rolling 10 school-week period for when a penalty notice must be considered.

  2. The new rules mean you are unable to take your child out of school a holiday or leave without a penalty notice being issued. School will consider leave in exceptional circumstances for example, a family funeral or medical appointment.

  3. There will be an increase in the penalty fine from £60 to £80 if paid in 21 days. If the fine is not paid by the first 21 days, it will rise to £160 if paid within 28 days of being issued.

  4. If a second penalty fine is issued to the same parent for the same child within a 3-year rolling period, the fine will automatically rise to £160 with no option to pay the lower rate of £80.

  5. If a parent then commits a third offence in a 3-year rolling period, the local authority will need to  consider other enforcement options available to them.