Attendance Information & Policy

As you are aware, it is very important that your child attends school every day, on time, if they are able to do so. Regular attendance helps children to get the most out of their school experience, including their achievement, wellbeing and wider life chances. There are only a few circumstances in which a child is able to miss school, such as illness or if permission has been given because of an exceptional circumstance.

If your child misses school without a good reason, the local authority can intervene and you may be issued with a fine. From September 2024, the Department for Education introduced a new national framework which means that the same rules apply to all schools and local authorities when considering whether to issue a fine. Under the new framework, all schools are required to consider a fine when a child misses 10 or more sessions (five days) for unauthorised reasons and has to report these to the LA. In many cases, schools and local authorities will offer support to try to improve your child’s attendance first, but if this is not effective, or the absence is for an unauthorised holiday in term time, you could be issued with a fine.

From August 2024 the amount of the fine increased to £80 if paid within 21 days or £160 if paid within 28 days. If a second fine is issued for the same child within a three year period the amount will be £160.

The number of fines you can receive for each child is capped at two within a three year period from the date of the first fine. If this limit is reached, other action, such as a parenting order or prosecution, will be considered by the Local Authority. Fines are issued separately to each parent.

Please see the links below for further information.