Overview

Schools and the council take unauthorised absences seriously. This includes leaves of absence and term time holidays taken without permission.

If a pupil is failing to attend regularly, there are several steps that the school and the council can take.

What happens first

The school will offer support and work with the parents/carers to find solutions to any issues that are stopping the pupil from attending.

If the problem continues

Where attendance problems become long term, schools may refer the case to the council.

The council can get involved if there are 10 or more sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 school week period. This is the equivalent of 5 school days missed, as there are 2 registration sessions every day.

If necessary, the council will take further action. Depending on the situation, this could involve:

  • an attendance contract, a formal written agreement that aims to help identify any barriers to improved attendance and create a plan to overcome them
  • a Notice to Improve, a final opportunity to improve attendance before the parents/carers are fined

If there is still no improvement

If the methods above do not work, then the council may issue an Education Supervision Order. This gives the council a formal role in advising and directing the parents/carers and pupil.

If the council thinks the parents/carers are failing to provide the child with an education, they'll issue a School Attendance Order. This requires the parents/carers to enrol the child at the school named in the order.

Fines and prosecution

Failing to make sure a child attends school could also result in the parents/carers receiving a fixed penalty fine called an Education Penalty Notice.

In some cases, this could also lead to prosecution.