The amount of fines issued for unauthorised pupil absences in Reading in recent years has been revealed, with more than £90,000 in fines being issued.
Unauthorised absences such as holidays during teaching time and truancy can be punished by ‘fixed penalty notices’ (FPN) being issued to parents and guardians.
An investigation by Legal Expert has found that FPNs issued for unauthorised pupil absences soared by 84 per cent in a 12-month period, with Reading Borough Council issuing more than £90,000 in fines over three years.
Families who break rules by going on holiday with their children without permission from their school will receive a £60 fine which increases to £120 per child if it is not paid within 21 days with a potential for prosecution for non-payment of 28 days.
A total of 402 penalty notices were given to parents between 2021/22, which increased to 739 the following year. That’s an increase of 84 per cent between 2021/22 – the first academic year after the coronavirus pandemic – and 2022/23.
In the most recent year, Reading Borough Council has issued 607 fines for unauthorised pupil absences, a figure that could rise by the end of the academic year.
Fines worth £91,700 were issued for the total of 1,749 FPNs issued from 2021/22 to 2023/24.
Of those, 332 were not paid within 21 days, with 15 prosecutions being undertaken.
The value of the FPNs amounted to £21,480 in 2021/22, rising to £39,380 the following year.
For the current academic year, up until June, £30,840 worth of penalty notices were handed out to parents – giving the grand total of £91,700 in fines issued since 2021.
The figures have been revealed in a Freedom of Information request to every metropolitan and unitary council in England.
It comes as fines for school absences in England will increase to £80 if paid within 21 days, and £160 if paid within 28 days.
The increases apply from August 2024, ready for the 2024/25 academic year.
Children’s and education services in Reading are managed by Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC). Brian Grady, director of education at BFfC, wrote a report into school standards and achievement for 2022/23 earlier this year.
It stated: “Outcomes for disadvantaged children with and without Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are weak in all phases and continue to be of significant concern.
“Poor attendance significantly impacts outcomes for this group.”
The report also stated that emotionally based school avoidance is both a local and national issue leading to declining school attendance.
Mr Brady has set a goal of raising attainment for ‘disadvantaged groups at risk of poor outcomes’ which involves prioritising good attendance to ensure children do not fall behind in their education.
Information provided on BFfC’s website states that children should only be taken out of school during term for exceptional circumstances – such as family weddings or bereavements.
It is then up to the state school or academy to decide whether the holiday is appropriate.
Categories: Education
