When a child can miss school
Children of school age must attend regularly and on time during term time.
Your child can only miss school if:
- they are too ill
- the school has authorised the absence
You must get permission from the headteacher if you are planning to take your child out of school during term time.
Your child may be allowed to miss school for:
- doctor, hospital or dental appointments
- a death in the family or funeral
- religious observation
Headteachers can only permit leave for a holiday in term time where there are exceptional circumstances.
If you do not get permission and you take your child out of school, you may get a fine.
How school fines are issued
We may issue parents or carers with a Penalty Notice if their child is absent from school without permission. This includes:
- any absence marked in the register as unauthorised
- arrival at school after the register has been taken
- a holiday in term-time, which has not been agreed by the headteacher
The school must have referred the matter to us.
Penalty Notices are issued per parent, per child and are an alternative to prosecution.
The current penalty is:
- 拢60, if paid within 21 days
- 拢120, if paid between 21 and 28 days
From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country is 拢160, reduced to 拢80 if paid within 21 days. There is no option for a reduction for a second fine, and a third fine cannot be issued within 3 years, we must consider prosecution instead.
If you do not pay a fine within 28 days, have received the maximum number of fines, or we feel that a fine would not be effective, we may prosecute you for non attendance.
After 28 days we may prosecute you.
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Pay a school fine
If you have received an email telling you to pay a school fine, use the link within it to make your payment.
If you have received a letter, you will need your case reference, access code and credit or debit card to continue.
If you have been given a school fine and feel it has been issued in error or wish to dispute it, please get in touch with your school. As the issuer, we cannot withdraw fines unless instructed directly by the school.