Parents in England are now facing heightened fines if they take their children out of school without proper permission, with new guidelines set in place as of Monday. The Department of Education (DfE) announced back in February their intentions to implement fines for unauthorised absences for parents whose children are absent from school for five days. The fines for school absences have been raised from £60 to £80, and will further escalate to £160 if left unpaid within 21 days, instead of the previous £120. Furthermore, if a parent receives a fine within a three-year period, the amount will start at £160 right away. There will be no third penalty notice during this time, and rather than issue another fine, “alternative action” will be taken, likely leading to prosecution.
The numbers speak for themselves, with nearly 400,000 penalty notices issued in England in 2022-23 for unauthorised school absences, a substantial increase from pre-pandemic levels. Shockingly, almost 90% (89.3%) of these fines were specifically for unauthorised holidays, as families aimed to take advantage of off-peak travel times to save money on vacations. In response to this concerning trend, schools and local authorities are being advised to adopt a “support-first” approach in addressing attendance issues. This may involve agreeing on a formal attendance contract with the family, or even pursuing a family court order if deemed necessary, with a fine being the last resort after all other options have been exhausted.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, expressed his reservations about the new fines back in February when they were initially proposed. He argued that although having a consistent national framework for fines was logical, the focus should be on addressing more pressing issues within the education system. Whiteman pointed out that fines have historically been deemed as a “blunt tool” that have not been particularly effective in improving persistent absence. Similarly, Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, acknowledged the necessity of imposing fines to deter parents from taking their children out of school for term-time holidays. He stressed that such actions not only negatively impact the child’s education but also place an additional burden on teachers to help students catch up on missed learning.
While the increase in fines for unauthorised school absences in England may serve as a deterrent for some parents, there are underlying issues that need to be addressed as well. It is crucial for schools and local authorities to offer support and guidance to families facing attendance barriers, rather than solely relying on punitive measures. The effectiveness of fines in promoting better attendance remains a topic of debate, with concerns being raised about the broader challenges within the education system that require urgent attention.
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