Action we can take if your child misses school
Schools check pupils’ attendance twice a day by taking a register. If your child misses school without permission or a good reason, the school records this absence as ‘unauthorised’. This will affect your child’s attendance record and could lead to a fine or even legal action.
If your child is ill and you don’t tell the school, the school will record the absence as unauthorised. If your child misses more than five days of school, or they are regularly absent due to illness, school may request medical evidence to support the authorisation of this absence. If this is not provided, the school will record the absence as unauthorised.
Truancy
Truancy is when your child misses’ lessons or doesn’t go to school because she or he chooses not to.
As a parent or carer, unless there is a very good reason such as illness, you must make sure your child:
- Goes to school every day
- Arrives on time.
Legal action
If legal action is taken against you. You could be fined up to £1,000 under Section 444 1 of the 1996 Education Act. If it is deemed the absences were parentally condoned or where the Local Authority have to take you to court more than once, the result could be a fine of up to £2,500 or up to three months in prison.
