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School attendance and truancy

 
By law, all children between 5 and 16 must have an appropriate full time education.

If you are the parent or carer of a child aged between 5 and 16, you are responsible for making sure this happens. You should do this by:

  • registering your child at a school
  • ensuring that your child attends school regularly.
If your child is not attending school, you must make other arrangements to provide your child with an efficient education suited to age, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs.

School attendance

Regular attendance at school will:

  • give your child the best possible start in life 
  • enable your child to attain to their full potential 
  • prove to employers that your child is reliable and assist him/her in getting a good job 
  • reduce the risk of your child becoming a victim of crime or abuse 
  • reduce the opportunity for your child to be drawn into anti-social or criminal behaviour.

What does regular attendance mean?

Regular attendance means that your child must:

  • attend school every day unless there are justified reasons
  • arrive at school on time
  • go to all lessons.

How can I encourage regular attendance?

You should start the habits of regular school attendance at an early age. If your child starts missing school: 

  • make early contact with the school 
  • help the school to put things right
  • make sure that your child understands that you do not approve of him/her being absent.
Remember that your child must not be kept away from school for reasons such as: 

  • looking after others at home 
  • minding the house 
  • visiting relatives 
  • taking long weekends 
  • shopping trips 
  • birthday treats.

What do I do if my child is ill?

If your child is ill you should contact the school as early as you can on the first day of absence. You can contact them by phone, send a note or call at the school office.

On your child's return to school, send a note giving the reason for your child's absence. Remember to date and sign the note.

What about absence for other reasons?

If your child is ever off school you must tell the school why. If you want your child to miss school for a special reason you must ask the school for permission well in advance and give full details.

The school will give careful consideration to your application, and they may take your child’s attendance record into account. They may not necessarily agree to your request, and therefore any absence would be unauthorised. 

Unauthorised absence

The Attendance Advisory Service operates Fast Track to Improved Attendance programmes with schools and school attendance is monitored rigorously.

If your child has ten unauthorised absences in an academic year, you may be liable for a Penalty Notice which carries with it a fine of £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 28 days).

Find out more about Fixed Penalty Notices for school absence.

Truancy

If you are concerned about your child's schools attendance, you can speak to the Attendance Advisory Service.

Every school has an allocated Attendance Advisory Officer whose job it is to work in partnership with you and the school to secure school attendance and give support.

Attendance Advisory Officers can offer advice on: 

  • resolving attendance problems
  • social and family problems
  • signposting to other services
  • other useful contacts.

What happens if the school refers me to the Attendance Advisory Service?

If the school refers you to The Attendance Advisory Service, an officer will write to arrange an appointment to meet you.

The aim of the meeting is to:

  • examine the reason for your child's absence
  • consider your views on the situation
  • devise a plan to assist you in getting your child back to school.
Further appointments may be necessary, either at your home or in school, to address the difficulties and secure attendance. 

For your child's sake, you should cooperate with the Attendance Advisory Officer to make sure your child overcomes his or her attendance problems and gets an appropriate education.

If you do not cooperate, the Attendance Advisory Service, on behalf of the Council, may consider the use of legal proceedings.

Know of a child who is not attending school?

Find out how you can report a child who is missing education.

A to Z of Services

Attendance Advisory Service

  • 020 8921 8510/8511

Useful links