Attendance
Attendance: What you need to know
If you have concerns about your child’s attendance please get in touch. We can help support you or refer to other groups who might be able to help you.
We give out certificates every week and the children love to have Charlie Bunny, our attendance award, for the week, especially if they are on a school trip.
Every moment in school counts and days missed add up quickly. Evidence shows that pupils who have good attendance enjoy better wellbeing and school performance than those who do not.
There are only a few occasions where a child is allowed to miss school, such as illness or where the school has given permission because of an exceptional circumstance.
Education Act 1996 (Section 7) states that:
The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable
- to his age, ability and aptitude, and
- to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.
This means that the parent of a child registered at a school has a legal duty to ensure the child's regular attendance. Failure to fulfil this duty is an offence under section 444 of the Education Act 1996 and could result in a penalty notice or prosecution.
From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country is £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.
In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.
Fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.
Parents/carers may also get a Penalty Notice (fine) sent to their home address if:
- a child regularly misses time off school or is late without the school's permission. The parent/carer is guilty of an offence under s.444 Education Act 1996.
- a child is suspended or excluded from school and found in a public place during school hours. The parent/carer is guilty of an offence under s.103 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006
However, we do not want to be in a position to have to fine anyone in our community. If you are struggling to get your child to school, please contact the school office so that we can work with you and the school team to help. Let’s give every child the best start that we can.