Am I responsible for my child’s school attendance?

Children with a good school attendance record are setting themselves up for a better future when they leave school.

Employers want staff that are reliable and good attendance is a sign that your child can be trusted.

It is in your interest to make sure that your child has a good school attendance record.  If your child misses school regularly (whether you know about it or not) the Local Authority may consider taking legal action against you.

Did you know?

Missing five days of every term every year is the same as missing one whole school year.

What the law says

School attendance is also important because the law requires it.  As a parent, you are legally responsible for making sure your child gets a full time education.  For most people this means registering the child at school and making sure they attend.

What could happen if your child misses school?

The school may remove your child from the school for leave of absence during term time.

There could be legal and financial consequences:

• For leave of absence taken without permission of the Headteacher you may be issued with a penalty notice of £100.00 (reducing to £50.00 if paid within 28 days).
• If you fail to pay this you will be in danger of prosecution.
• If prosecuted and convicted you will have a criminal record.
• For more serious offences you can be fined up to £2,500.00 and in extreme cases there is a penalty of up to three months imprisonment.

When is it OK for your child to stay away from school?

Illness

Follow the school's illness procedures and advise the school as soon as possible on the first day that your child is ill. You will be expected to provide medical evidence for absence of five days or more.

Medical appointments

Try to arrange appointments during school holidays, at weekends or after school hours.  Naturally, there will be times when this isn't possible but you must try to give as much advance warning as possible and take the appointment letter or card into school.

Religious Festivals

Ask your school in advance for time off for religious reasons.  A maximum of three days will be considered for religious observance only.

When is it not OK for your child to stay away from school?

Holidays

Redbridge Local Authority state that leave of absence during term time should not be granted unless in the most exceptional of circumstances.

Persistent lateness

If your child is persistently late the school can ask the Local Authority to implement a penalty notice to the parent or carer.

A maximum of seven late attendances during any one half term could generate a penalty notice being implemented.