main content Parents fined for children's truancy

The Council is taking direct action to tackle truancy by issuing its first fines to parents whose children are persistently absent from school.

This week three parents became the first in the borough to be served with £50 fixed penalty notices for failing to take steps to ensure their children are not missing out on their education. If not paid within 28 days the fine increases to £100, and failure to pay within the next 14 days will lead to prosecution.

Despite the support offered by the Council’s education welfare service, some parents and carers still condone their children’s absence or persistent lateness.

Executive Councillor for Children and Young People Councillor Graham Arthur said: “We want to give children and young people the very best start in life, and will not shirk our responsibility to ensure they receive a complete education and the opportunities that this opens up.”

Formal discussions earlier this year between schools, the police and the Council’s education and libraries department resulted in a local “code of conduct”, which outlines the criteria for issuing penalty fines.

Parents and carers affected will have already received verbal warnings, at least two written warnings and written notification of the Council’s intention to issue the fine.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• in April, Bromley Council announced new powers in the fight against unauthorised absence from school;
• the Council’s education welfare service works with parents and carers to ensure they fulfil their duties with regard to children’s attendance;
• other measures can include parenting orders and parenting contracts;
• examples of specific circumstances in which penalty notices could be served include unjustified absence due to holidays during term time and parentally-condoned absence identified during a truancy patrol; 
• if prosecuted, parents and carers could be fined up to £2,500 or face imprisonment.

For media enquiries, please contact Richard Simcox, Communications Officer, on 020 8313 4310, or e-mail richard.simcox@bromley.gov.uk.