Parents are being warned of new rules coming into effect next month, which could see them fined if they fail to comply with updated attendance policies.

The education sector has been grappling to reduce absenteeism rates to pre-pandemic levels over the past few years. In response, ministers have unveiled new regulations set to be enforced from September to manage school attendance, which parents should be aware of, along with potential repercussions.

Current Government guidelines stipulate that children should attend school every day it is open, barring five exceptions; illness, pre-approved absences requested by parents, religious observance days, disruptions to local authority transport, or traveller families required to work on a specific day.

Changes to fines and improvement notices

While fines for absences are not a new concept for parents, the amount has been increased from £60 to £80. This will further escalate to £160 if the fine remains unpaid within 21 days.

The decision to issue a fine still rests with the school, but the local council is responsible for imposing the fines on parents and guardians.

Starting next month, families can receive a maximum of two fines within a three-year rolling period before they are automatically charged at the £160 level and issued with improvement notices, parenting orders or prosecution. Prosecution could result in a parent having to appear in court and potentially facing a fine of up to £2,500.

National fine thresholds

From September, schools are required to consider fines if a student misses 10 half-day sessions due to unauthorised absence within a rolling period of 10 school weeks. These 10 sessions can be accumulated through various types of unauthorised absences.

For instance, four term-time absences and six instances of tardiness would meet the threshold.

Mandatory data sharing is now in effect, with schools required to share daily attendance data with the government via an electronic management information system. This system is already in place in 90% of schools and allows for near real-time monitoring of attendance.

Protest guidance

Guidance on protests has been updated, with individual schools given the discretion to grant absences. However, participating in "protest activity during school hours" is now listed among the scenarios that should not be granted.

The former education secretary had previously stated that "missing school for activism is unacceptable".

Long-term sickness data sharing

In cases of long-term sickness, schools are now obliged to provide councils and local authorities with the name and address of pupils who they believe may miss 15 consecutive or cumulative days. If there are unexplained absences, the pupil's social worker or youth offending team worker must also be informed.

The guidance also emphasises mental health awareness

Schools are being urged to consider absences due to mental or physical health issues, special educational needs or disabilities and provide additional support. Despite this, the guidance emphasises that these pupils are still expected to attend school regularly.

Code changes

In a significant overhaul of attendance codes this September, amid concerns that the system could be manipulated to send children home, a new code, K, will be introduced. This will apply to education provisions arranged by a council rather than a school.

Another fresh code is Q, which denotes an absence due to lack of access or arrangements such as disability access. The existing code C, for authorised absences, is also being expanded with more subsections.

C1 will now denote absence for a regulated performance or employment abroad, while C2 will apply to pupils on part-time timetables.

Code B, used for off-site education arranged by schools, is facing tighter restrictions. Schools will now need to record the nature of the education provided and "be satisfied that appropriate measures have been taken to safeguard the pupil".

Code Y, used when a student is unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances, is being divided into seven separate subcodes. These include:

• Y1- Absence due to usual transport not being available.
• Y2- Widespread disruption to travel.
• Y3- Absence due to part of the school being closed.
• Y4- Unexpected whole school closure.
• Y5- For pupils in the criminal justice system.
• Y6- Absence due to adherence to public health guidelines or laws.
• Y7- Absences due to any other unavoidable circumstances.