How school fines are issued
We may issue parents or carers with a Penalty Notice if their child is absent from school without permission. This includes:
- any absence marked in the register as unauthorised
- arrival at school after the register has been taken
- a holiday in term-time, which has not been agreed by the headteacher
The school must have referred the matter to us.
Penalty Notices are issued per parent, per child and are an alternative to prosecution.
The current penalty is:
- £60, if paid within 21 days
- £120, if paid between 21 and 28 days
From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country is £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days. There is no option for a reduction for a second fine, and a third fine cannot be issued within 3 years, we must consider prosecution instead.
If you do not pay a fine within 28 days, have received the maximum number of fines, or we feel that a fine would not be effective, we may prosecute you for non attendance.
After 28 days we may prosecute you.