Government plans to strengthen school attendance regulations could “penalise struggling families”, professionals working with disadvantaged children have said.
The new measures include stricter rules around fines for parents of absent children and a duty on all state schools in England to share their daily attendance registers with the Department for Education and councils.
Parents could receive penalties of £60 if paid within 21 days which can rise to £120 if paid within 28 days. If fines are not paid within this period councils can consider prosecution, and parents have no right to appeal.
CYP Now readers shared concerns about the measures on LinkedIn, with one youth worker branding the proposal as “deeply concerning" adding that "penalising parents with fines for their child's absence may exacerbate existing issues within already struggling families and communities”.
