Understanding Penalty Notices

Helping Parents understand Penalty Notice Fines for School Attendance

From 19 August 2024, there is a National Framework for Penalty Notice Fines being issued for unauthorised absences recorded by schools.

National Threshold

A single consistent national threshold for when a Penalty Notice must be considered by ALL schools in England, this is:

● 10 sessions (usually equivalent to 5 school days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period

● These sessions do not have to be consecutive and can be made up of a combination of any type of unauthorised absence

● For example, a 5-day unauthorised leave of absence would meet the national threshold

● The 10-school week period can span different terms or school years

Who may be fined?

● Penalty Notice Fines are issued to each parent who allows their child to be absent without authorisation from school

● For example, 3 siblings absent for unauthorised leave during term-time would result in each parent receiving 3 separate fines

First Offence

The first time a Penalty Notice is issued for unauthorised absence, the fine amount will be:

● £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days

● If not paid within 21 days, the fine will increase to £160 per parent, per child, payable between the 22^nd and 28^th day

Second Offence (within 3 years)

The second time a Penalty Notice is issued for unauthorised absence, a reduced rate is not

available. The amount therefore will be:

● £160 per parent, per child – payable within 28 days

Third Offence and Any Further Offences (within 3 years)

The third time an offence is committed, a Penalty Notice WILL NOT be issued, and the case will

be presented straight to the Magistrate’s Court

● Prosecution can result in criminal records and fines of up to £2,500

● Cases found guilty in a Magistrates Court can show on the parent’s future DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate (Disclosure and Barring Service) due to a ‘failure to safeguard a child’s education’