Penalty Notice Leaflet
Dear Parent/carer
THE EDUCATION (PENALTY NOTICES) (ENGLAND) (AMENDMENT)
Please note the following changes from the Department for Education will be coming into effect from August 2024 and that the fine for unauthorised school absences will change.
Some key points to note:
- All schools will be required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons.
- From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. This is per parent, per child absent.
- 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.
- If you’re prosecuted and attend court because your child hasn’t been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500.
During these difficult times and with many facing a cost-of-living crisis, we do not want fines issued to any family. However, this is a new National Framework, and we must work together to ensure Cowley students are not disadvantaged because of poor attendance.
The Education Hub provides some key details for parents on this new framework: