Parents face £160 fine if kids miss five days of school under government drive

Crackdown on truancy

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is ramping up efforts to tackle truancy, which has seen a surge in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. With around 200,200 children currently skipping school, the government is introducing stricter measures to ensure attendance.

Fines and consequences

Under the new rules, parents could face fines of £160 if their child misses five days of school without permission. Headteachers will share absence data with local authorities to monitor at-risk children who may be slipping through the cracks. Fines will increase from £60 to £80 if paid within three weeks, and from £120 to £160 if paid within four weeks.

Impact and concerns

While Education Secretary Keegan emphasizes the importance of improving attendance for children's development, critics, including National Education Union leader Daniel Kebede, argue that fines are not the solution. Concerns have been raised about the financial burden on families already struggling with the cost of living.

The new laws, scheduled to take effect in August ahead of the upcoming school year in September, aim to address the rise in absence rates and support children's well-being and education.