There’s a clear link between poor attendance at school and low levels of achievement. Poor attendance can disrupt a pupils own learning and that of other pupil’s. It has a damaging effect on a child’s education and most of the work missed while a child is off school is never made up.

Pupils who attend school regularly are likely to leave school with more qualifications and increased access to employment opportunities than children with persistent absence

Fixed penalty fines can be issued to parents or guardians if the children in their care are absent from school for any of the following reasons

NORTHANTS COUNTY COUNCIL PENALTY NOTICE INFORMATION

Fixed penalty fines can be issued to parents or guardians if the children in their care are absent from school for any of the following reasons

• Truancy (including pupils found during truancy patrols)
• Holidays taken during term time
• Persistent late arrival to class (after registration has closed, on 10 occasions in any 10-week period)
• Exclusion (pupils stopped on a truancy patrol in school hours during the first five days of an exclusion)
• Poor attendance (of five or more unauthorised sessions within a term)

• Penalty notices issued for offences that take place after 19 August 2024 will be charged at a new rate of £160 per parent per child. This can be paid at £80 if paid within 21 days.
• Any second penalty notice issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period will be issued at the rate of £160 to be paid within 28 days with no option for a discounted rate.
• A maximum of 2 penalty notices may be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3-year period, so at the 3rd offence another course of action will need to be considered such as prosecution  in the Magistrates’ Court which could result in you receiving a Community Order, a fine of up to £2,500 per parent or carer, or a custodial sentence
• The threshold at which a penalty notice must be considered is set at 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-school week period. This may include absences because of arriving late after the register closes. The 10 school weeks may span different terms or school years

Decisions on whether to allow a leave of absence during term-time are made by individual schools, not the council.

There is no right to appeal. Fines will only be withdrawn if they are found to have been issued in error. If parents or carers believe an absence to have been classified incorrectly, they need to take this up with the school rather than the council, as whether or not the council issues a fine depends on the school's classification.

UNPAID FINES
If the fine is not paid, the council may begin legal proceedings in the Magistrates Court against the parents or guardians for failing to ensure their child's attendance at school. If convicted, each parent or guardian may face a fine of up to £2500.