Truancy
If you are having trouble making sure your child goes to school, you can receive help and advice from the Education Welfare Service.
Absence from school damages your child’s education disrupts teaching for other children, and is associated with anti-social behaviour and youth crime. Tackling this problem is a key priority nationally and locally.
Truancy patrols
Police officers and Education Welfare officers patrol public areas such as town centres and parks during school hours. They will stop any school age person even if accompanied by an adult. They will check with the child’s school whether they are authorised to be absent. Any unaccompanied child found without a valid reason will be returned to school and their parents informed.
Penalty notices
A penalty notice is a fixed fine for parents or carers who do not make sure that their child goes to school.
Parents and carers are responsible for making sure that their children receive an education. The law says that if you do not make sure your children go to school you are guilty of an offence.
For more about how these are issued and your responsibilties if you receive one, see our page on penalty notices.
Parenting Orders
If you do not pay a penalty notice you can be prosecuted and fined in a Magistrates Court. The Court can also make a Parenting Order.
A Parenting Order can require you to attend counselling and guidance sessions on how to support your child. The aim is to help you improve your child's school attendance or prevent them from re-offending if they are in trouble.
For more information visit our page on parenting orders.
