In September 2024 the rules surrounding the application of penalty notices for school absence were altered. Schools must now consider giving a penalty notice to a parent when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons within a 10 week school period and support to help your child be in school is not appropriate. Parents cannot be issued with a penalty notice for absence that is authorised by the school (for example, illness).
The school/council can still decide to issue a penalty notice or proceed to prosecution for shorter amounts of absence than the 10 sessions if support is not appropriate and it is believed that the notice would improve attendance. In some cases a ‘notice to improve’ may be issued instead of a penalty notice once the national threshold of 10 sessions of unauthorised absence is met. This is a formal written warning that, unless attendance significantly improves, parents will be issued with a penalty notice.
From September 2024 the fine for school absence penalty notices across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days or £160 if paid within 28 days. If it is not paid prosecution in court may follow.
If the parent receives a second penalty notice for the same child within a 3 year period, the charge will be a flat rate of £160, there will be no reduction if paid within 21 days. Penalty notices for absence before the current (2024-2025) school year do not count.
A parent cannot receive more than 2 penalty notices for the same child within any 3 year period. This is because it is clear that previous penalty notices have not worked. Once this limit is reached, another action such as a parenting order or prosecution may be considered. Again penalty notices for absence before the 2024-25 school year do not count in this limit.
