Parents face £100 fines over children absent from school

PARENTS who fail to ensure that their children attend school at the start of the autumn term are facing a court appearance and a fine of up to 100 under a new clampdown.

Doncaster Council revealed it had already prosecuted the parents of three children who had missed classes last term, the first time such action had been taken.

Education officers said they would continue to pursue people in court and wanted to send parents a “clear message that unauthorised pupil absence will not be tolerated”.

Those prosecuted, who cannot be identified to protect their children, were each given 80 hours community service and ordered to pay costs of 70 at Doncaster magistrates court.

They were each found guilty of failing to ensure their child attends school regularly at hearings in the past fortnight.

Government legislation allows local councils to issue a 50 fine in the form of a fixed penalty notice that has to be paid by parents or guardians of pupils who have a so-called “unauthorised absence” from school.

If payment is not made within 28 days the fine will be increased to 100. Failure to pay the fine within 42 days results in a summons to appear before the magistrates court.

Fixed penalty notices are issued if parents or guardians repeatedly fail to work with the school and education welfare officers to improve the attendance of their children following a warning letter from the authority.

Doncaster Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services Andrea Milner said: “The message is clear. Parents, guardians and carers who do not ensure their child’s regular attendance at school will not go unnoticed.

“Our education welfare officers work extremely hard to support schools and families so that all Doncaster children can achieve the highest levels of attendance.

“I strongly encourage anyone who is struggling to ensure their child’s attendance at school to get in touch and avoid the risk of a fixed penalty notice being issued.”

Families requiring support regarding a child’s school absence can contact an educational welfare officer through their school or by calling Doncaster’s education department directly on 01302 737258.