Fixed Penalty Notice 

The government’s priority is to ensure that every child attends school regularly and where attendance is deemed to be unsatisfactory, that it is addressed promptly. There is clear evidence that any absence can and will have an impact on attainment. It is therefore important that schools maintain good attendance levels and that parents/carers support this by ensuring their children attend school regularly. 

​What is a penalty notice? 

A penalty notice (PN) is an alternative to prosecution and requires the parent(s) to pay a fixed amount as a fine for their child’s irregular attendance at school. It is issued per parent, per child.  

Who issues them? 

In Rutland, the Local Authority issues them through their Inclusion Team following notification from the school. 

When are they used? 

• When a pupil has a minimum of 10 school sessions recorded as unauthorised in a 10-week school period; (a school day is two sessions -morning and afternoon) or 
• When a pupil has a series of unauthorised absences leading to irregular attendance 

This includes: 

• Any absence marked in the register as unauthorised. 
• Persistent late arrival at school after the register has been taken and is recorded as an unauthorised absence. 
• An absence in term time which has not been authorised by the head teacher. The Government has directed that head teachers may only grant leave in exceptional circumstances. 
• PN's can also be used during the first 5 days of exclusion. Parents are made aware of the consequences by letter when a child is excluded from school. 

Penalty notice costs:

​When you pay	​Amount to pay
​Payment within 21 days	​£60.00
​Payment within 22 days and 28 days	​£120.00

 

If you don’t pay within the 28 days, the Local Authority will consider instigating a prosecution in the Magistrates Court for the offence of irregular school attendance. If proven, this could result in a criminal conviction, a fine of up to £1000 per parent per child and/or a parenting order or a community service order and also costs. 

Please note:

If the school refers a period of absence that is longer than 15 consecutive school days, the Inclusion Team may consider that a penalty notice is not appropriate. 

In these instances, the matter may proceed to a prosecution. If a parent knows that their child is failing to attend school regularly and there is reasonable justification for not ensuring that their child attends, then it is for the parent or carers to prove that reasonable justification.