Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many fines have been issued for non-attendance at schools in England since September 2020.

Information on fines issued for non-attendance at school relating to the 2020/21 academic year will not be available until March 2022.

Where pupils are absent, the Department asks schools and local authorities to work with families to discuss the reasons behind the child’s absence and together agree an action plan so that the right support can be put in place to help them return to full-time attendance.

Attendance fines for parents are available to be used by schools and local authorities to improve attendance, but only as a last resort, and where there is no valid reason for the child’s absence.