Parents must make sure their children get the right education to meet their needs. Being absent from school means your child will lose an opportunity to learn.
The law for school attendance
All children between 5 and 16 years old must get an education. You could face legal action if your child does not attend school regularly and on time.
If you are sent to court, you may:
- be fined up to £2,500; and/or
- get a three months prison sentence.
Courts may also:
- issue a Parenting Order; or ask the LA to apply for an Education Supervision Order.
School Attendance Support Team (SAST)
The School Attendance Support Team (SAST) provides advice and guidance to families, schools and other agencies about attendance matters.
The team helps with problems affecting your child’s attendance at school and can advise on educational needs or difficulties. The SAST steps in if your:
- child’s attendance is poor
- child has problems or difficulties which affect their attendance.
The School will contact you first to try to resolve these difficulties before referring your child to the SAST.
Each school has a named School Attendance Officer (SAO) from the local authority who understand local and national issues and can adapt advice to meet individual pupil needs. The SAO helps to resolve any difficulties, and advises and informs parents of the legal responsibilities of everyone involved.
Contact the SAO
If you are concerned about your child's attendance, call the SAO on 020 8820 7288 or go to the school.
What to do if you child is absent
If your child is absent, you must contact the school the same day with the reason for their absence. The school will tell you if your child's absence or lateness causes concern and will work with you to find a way to improve your child's attendance.
Reading your child's school attendance policy will ensure that you are following the correct procedures to report absences.
Authorised or unauthorised absences
Absences can only be authorised by your child's school.
Genuine reasons for absence, include the following:
- Sickness
- Medical or dental appointments
- Days of religious observance
- Exceptional family circumstances e.g. bereavement
The following absences will not be authorised by your child's school:
- Looking after the house
- Looking after brothers and sisters or sick relatives
- Shopping
- Birthdays
- Translating
Related documents and links
Penalty Notice - Code of Conduct (PDF, 195KB)
Information about the procedures for issuing penalty notices (fines) to any parent who fails to ensure their child’s regular attendance at school
Working together to improve school attendance
Department for Education guidance to help schools, academy trusts, governing bodies, and local authorities maintain high levels of school attendance including roles and responsibilities
Hackney Graduated Approach to Improving Attendance (PDF, 563KB)
This guidance reflects the new guidance from the Department for Education and supports schools with promoting good school attendance and encourage use of a multi-agency approach
Education Penalty Notices and Prosecutions Guidance for Referrers (PDF, 372KB)
This guidance supports schools, settings and practitioners to decide when it is appropriate to refer to Hackney Education for school attendance enforcement measures