School attendance

By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16) must get a suitable, full-time education. As a parent/carer, you are responsible for making sure this happens, either by registering your child at a school or by making other arrangements which provide a suitable education.

Once your child is registered at a school you are responsible for making sure he or she attends regularly. If your child fails to attend regularly - even if they miss school without you knowing - the Local Education Authority (LEA) may take legal action against you.

The LEA is responsible for making sure that parents fulfil their responsibilities. Parents/Carers are responsible for making sure that their registered children attend school regularly.

What happens if my child does not attend school regularly?

Your child's school is responsible by law for reporting poor attendance to the LEA. Most LEAs employ Education Welfare Officers to monitor school attendance and to help parents/carers meet their responsibility.

If your child is not attending school regularly, an Education Welfare Officer may visit or write to you. Education Welfare Officers work with parents/carers to address their child's attendance difficulties.

As a parent/carer, you are committing an offence if you fail to make sure that your child attends school regularly, even if they are missing school without your knowledge.

The decision to prosecute a parent/carer is taken by the LEA, in most cases after extensive work with the child and their family.

Parents/Carers can be fined up to £2,500 or imprisoned for failing to ensure that their child attends school regularly.
Magistrates can also impose a Parenting Order, which means that the parent/carer has to attend a parenting class.

The LEA may also apply for an Education Supervision Order (ESO) instead of or as well as prosecuting parents/carers. This would be heard in the Family Proceedings Court. An ESO is made in respect of a child and makes the LEA responsible for advising, supporting and giving directions to a child and his or her parents/carers in order to make sure that the child attends school regularly.

There are sanctions made against parents/carers who fail to cooperate. Magistrates may also direct the LEA to consider applying for an ESO following a prosecution.

What can I do to help?

If you suspect that your child may be missing school or is unhappy at school, you should contact the school or the LEA Education Welfare Service as soon as possible so that you can work with them to resolve any difficulties.

Make sure your child understands that you do not approve of missing school, but be on the alert for any particular reasons for non-attendance, such as bullying or problems with school work and discuss these with the school.

If your child is ill or absent for any other reason, contact the school on the first day of absence.

Make sure your child arrives at school on time for both the morning and afternoon sessions.

If you have any attendance or welfare concerns, please contact:

your school, or

The Shropshire Education Welfare Service, contact details displayed on this page

Useful websites

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) - independent practical and legal advice on schooling issues. Helpline:0808 8005793 (2 - 5pm weekdays).

Childline - a free confidential helpline for children. Tel: 0800 1111

Dfes - information on all aspects of school attendance including links to relevant legislation, information and advice on tackling bullying.

Parent centre - information and advice on how you can help with your childs' education.