Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the justification for imposing fines for absenteeism in schools; and whether they intend to review the use of this measure.

Absence is often a symptom of wider issues a family is facing. Schools, trusts and local authorities should always work together with other local partners to understand the barriers to attendance and provide support. Where support is not successful, not engaged with, or not appropriate, legal intervention remains an important part of local authorities’ powers to protect every child’s right to a full-time education.

The department has consulted on a new framework to improve consistency and fairness in issuing penalty notices and to ensure they are used effectively as part of the suite of parental responsibility measures. The department will be responding to this consultation in due course.