Truancy

 

The Local Education Authority has a statutory responsibility to ensure parents and carers make sure their children, of statutory school age, receive a full time education appropriate to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise. This duty is discharged through the work and support of the Education Welfare Service.

 

 

Procedure

 

When children or young people are on the roll of a school, and have an unacceptable level of absence, and the difficulty has not been resolved by the intervention of the school, they may be referred to the named Education Welfare Officer for that school. Similarly, if a parent fails to secure a school place for their child, and is not educating otherwise than at school, the Education Welfare Service has a responsibility to ensure that the parent/carer registers their child at a school.The service works closely with students, parents/carers, schools and other agencies to restore attendance and any parent/carer worried about their child's attendance, should first contact the named Education Welfare Officer through his or her school.

 

Helplines

 

BMBC Education Welfare
(01226) 773543 or 773547

 

Opening Times/Locations

 

You should contact the Education Welfare Officer through your child's school or by contacting:

Education Welfare Service
Education Services
Berneslai Close
Barnsley
S70 2HS

Monday-Friday
8.30am - 5.00pm

 

 

Legislation

 

• Education Act 1996
• Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003

Parents and carers can be fined for failing to ensure their children attend regularly, at a school where they are registered pupils. Fines can be up to a maximum of ã2,500 per parent per child plus costs. This offence also carries a custodial sentence (up to 3 months imprisonment).

Education Supervision Order

A young person can be made the subject of an Education Supervision Order, for persistent failure to attend school. This order empowers the Supervising Order, to make 'reasonable directions'. In Barnsley, the Supervising Officer is an Education Welfare Officer.

School Attendance Orders

This order names the school that the LEA requires the young person to attend, in cases where the parent has failed to secure a school place. If the parent does not comply with the order, a fine may be imposed in the Magistrates Court.

Parenting Orders

These orders may be made against parents, or guardians, to help them address the young person's offending behaviour or failure to attend school. Parents may be obliged to attend counselling or guidance sessions for up to 3 months, or to exercise particular controls over their children. Breach of the order is a criminal offence.

Fixed Penalty Notices

Parents and carers may be issued with a Notice if they take their child on holiday, in term time, if the holiday has not been authorised by the Headteacher.

Additionally, a Notice can be issued if parents and carers fail to improve their child's school attendance following the issue of a warning letter from the Local Education Authority.

If paid within the first 28 days the fine is ã50 per child; if not it increases to ã100. Refusal to pay will result in the matter being brought before the courts.

 

Websites

 

Department for Education and Skills - School Attendance

 

Last modified on 16/9/2008