School attendance fine effectiveness
Inconsistent and unregulated use of school attendance fines, with concerns about their effectiveness and potential counterproductivity.
303 items
3 sources
1 inquiry
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
98match
#9 - Department lacks urgency in addressing inconsistent and unregulated use of attendance fines.
There is evidence that prior to the pandemic, fines played a role in reducing unauthorised absence. However, it is less clear if they are an effective deterrent for families who are facing some of the current barriers to attendance we have outlined. We heard that fines do not address the barriers that low-income families face and can be...
Matched on
terms: attendance, fine, school
Committee recommendation
90match
#10 - Require legal intervention as last resort, introducing a national framework for consistent attendance fines.
We recommend the Department instruct schools and local authorities to explore methods of support for pupils and families before the use of fines or prosecution, ensuring that legal intervention is a last resort only. The Department should be more explicit about this in its revisions to the guidance ‘Working together to improve school attendance’. These revisions should include...
Matched on
terms: attendance, fine, school
Committee recommendation
69match
#15 - Require local authorities to report on school attendance for pupils attending breakfast or holiday clubs.
We recommend the Department require local authorities to report on school attendance levels for pupils who have attended a breakfast club or holiday club. If a significant impact can be demonstrated, the Government should consider this in future funding decisions.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
69match
#6 - Implement statutory guidance on school attendance to be applicable from September.
The Department should implement statutory guidance to be applicable from September
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
69match
#5 - Statutory school attendance guidance requires revision and remains delayed despite commitments.
We heard mixed reactions to the guidance working together to improve school attendance. Whilst witnesses agreed guidance on a statutory footing is needed to improve attendance, we heard from a number of witnesses that the guidance in its current form may require revisions. The Department initially planned to revise the guidance ahead of the 2023/24 academic year and...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
69match
#13 - 70th Report - Home-to-school transport
In the academic year 2023/24, around one in five children of compulsory school age in England missed a day or more of school per fortnight – and around one in three at sixth form age.28 Government data from November 2025 showed that almost one million young people aged 16–24 in the UK were not in education, employment or...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
69match
#4 - Introduce a register of children not in school fully operational for the 2024/25 academic year.
We urge the Government to deliver on its commitment to introduce a register of children not in school to be fully operational for the 2024/25 academic year. We therefore expect the Government to include a suitable legislative vehicle in the next King’s Speech, if it has not already availed itself of the opportunity to adopt a private members...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
69match
#19 - Implement an enrichment guarantee for pupils with KPIs focused on improving school attendance.
As the Centre for Social Justice have recommend, the Department should implement an enrichment guarantee for pupils in school including the use of sport, music, drama and art, looking to the youth sector for best practice. This guarantee should have KPIs focusing on improving school attendance, and the Department should provide options for schools to incorporate this via...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
69match
#18 - Promote an overall enrichment guarantee for pupils in school to improve attendance.
The provision of enrichment activities available for pupils has declined in recent years, with £1 billion less spent on youth services than a decade ago. We heard sports-based activities provided by third sector organisations is just one example of enrichment that has been used as an intervention to improve school attendance. We welcome the £500 million pledged by...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
68match
#2 - Mandate schools' participation in the daily attendance data dashboard as soon as possible.
We welcome the daily attendance data pilot, the Department’s intention to mandate schools’ participation, and to replace the School Census. Given that around 80% of schools have been successfully using the dashboard over the last academic year, for consistency, we recommend the Department make use of the dashboard mandatory as soon as possible, subject to a successful evaluation...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
LGO / SPSO decision
68match
23-021-330 - Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council taking court action against Mrs X for the payment of a school attendance fine. The onset of court action has permanently removed our legal power to investigate this matter.
Matched on
terms: attendance, fine, school
Committee recommendation
65match
#14 - 70th Report - Home-to-school transport
Given that home to school transport policy aims to facilitate attendance, we asked the Department if the current system was doing all it could to promote it. The Department told us that it saw transport as critical to ensuring access to education but explained that it only measures the number of total school sessions missed due to problems...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
65match
#14 - Department champions shared responsibility and the Attendance Action Alliance for improving school attendance.
The Department said it had set a strong expectation that attendance was everyone’s responsibility, including parents, schools and local authorities. It also stressed the importance of leadership and data. It explained that national leadership was being provided by the Attendance Action Alliance which brought together key players from across the school system who could make a difference, and...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
65match
#17 - Commission research to test the link between sports-based interventions and improved school attendance.
We recommend the Department commission research to test the link between sports- based interventions and improved attendance. As part of this, the Department should look to the third sector for effective practice examples.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
65match
#16 - Limited and unsustainable sports-based interventions hinder improved school attendance for pupils.
We heard limited evidence that schools were offering sports-based interventions to improve school attendance, despite the benefits of sport to pupil engagement. We did hear of localised interventions that are offering some provision, but the position of these interventions is often unsecure and unsustainable due to the lack of direct support from the Government. The Government certainly values...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
64match
#14 - Department fails to require measurement of attendance return rates from breakfast and holiday clubs.
We welcome the offer of breakfast clubs and the Holiday Activities and Food Programme for pupils with higher levels of disadvantage. This measure can be used to support attendance, and may already be doing so, but there is a lack of evidence as the Department does not require schools or local authorities to measure return rates in school...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
60match
#31 - Launch a public information campaign guiding parents on school attendance during illness.
We recommend the Department should launch a targeted public information campaign to guide parents on when and when not children who are unwell should attend school. Close working between the Department and the Department for Health and Social Care will be required to get this right, but it should aim to ensure that parents understand the types of...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
LGO / SPSO decision
60match
21-010-042 - London Borough of Lambeth
Summary: Miss X complained the Council wrongly sought to prosecute her for her son’s non-attendance at school. The Council’s failure to properly document how it considered all of the factors and reached the decision to prosecute Miss X for Mr Y’s non-attendance at school, amounts to fault. This fault has caused Miss X an injustice.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
LGO / SPSO decision
60match
24-020-930 - Manchester City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an alleged threat of legal action made by a Council officer to Miss X regarding school attendance. There is not enough evidence of injustice caused by fault to warrant investigation.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
60match
#29 - Introduce a mental health absence code for schools with clear usage thresholds.
As part of reforms to the guidance on attendance, the Department should introduce a mental health absence code, and set clear thresholds for its use.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
57match
#36 - Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils face significant attendance barriers requiring targeted support.
There is clear evidence to suggest pupils from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community face significant barriers to attendance. Whilst the Department is aware of this, not enough is being done to support this pupil cohort, and community interventions are filling the gap in localised areas. Whilst the Department does not usually provide targeted interventions for specific ethnic...
Matched on
terms: attendance
LGO / SPSO decision
56match
22-005-385 - Sheffield City Council
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council pursuing Miss X about the school attendance of her children. The matter complained of is not separable from ongoing court action.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
56match
#33 - Review framework supporting low-income families with school costs and issue best practice guidance.
Ultimately, pupils from low-socio economic backgrounds should not be prevented from receiving an education due their financial situation, and this should be considered a priority for the Department as the cost of living continues to rise. We recommend the Department review its framework for supporting low-income families in meeting the costs of school attendance. As part of this...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
LGO / SPSO decision
55match
21-016-300 - Warwickshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint about the Council issuing fixed penalty notices for school non-attendance. This is because it does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. It is reasonable to expect them to have defended any claim made against them in the Magistrates...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
53match
#7 - Ensure all schools across the country can access good support for tackling persistent absence.
We heard that support offered by local authorities can vary significantly. For example, since the funding for Education Welfare Officers has been devolved to schools, it has become a “traded good” for most schools, and a postcode lottery for pupils. We understand the Department has recently conducted a new burdens assessment to improve the consistency of support offered...
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
52match
21-006-088 - St Andrew's RC School
Mrs B complained about the appeal panel failing to follow proper procedures when it rejected her appeal against the School governors’ decision to refuse her son a place in year 7. As a result, the family is under a great amount of stress, and she has the uncertainty of not knowing whether the outcome would have differed had...
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
52match
25-006-245 - St George's CoE School (Broadstairs)
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel for us to be able to question its decision.
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
52match
24-004-996 - Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School
Summary: Mrs X complains about a school admission appeal panel’s decision to refuse her appeal. The appeal panel was at fault as it failed to properly consider all the evidence submitted by Mrs X in support of her appeal. As a result, Mrs X cannot be satisfied that she received a fair appeal. The School has agreed to...
Matched on
terms: school
Committee recommendation
51match
#11 - Pupil absence rates, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic.
The Department recognises that a key element of improving attainment is for children to be in school.19 Rates of pupil absence from school are, however, higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.20 Written evidence we received from Action Tutoring pointed to increases in pupil absence since before the pandemic, and highlighted the stark gap in attendance between...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
51match
#2 - Develop understanding of reasons for higher absence rates among disadvantaged pupils and take action
Effective recovery relies on pupils being at school but absence is higher than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among disadvantaged pupils. In the autumn and spring terms of 2021/22, the average absence rate for all pupils was 7.4%, compared with 4.5% for the same terms before the pandemic in 2018/19. For disadvantaged pupils, the rate was...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
23-020-037 - Manchester City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council issuing a school none attendance fixed penalty notice. It is unlikely we would achieve a significantly different outcome.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
23-020-591 - Portsmouth City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to prosecute Miss Y for her son’s school attendance. The law says we cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action, the complaint is late, and there is not enough evidence of fault.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
LGO / SPSO decision
51match
24-021-503 - Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We cannot investigate X’s complaint about the Council’s actions related to their child’s school attendance. The Council has started court action about the matter. We cannot investigate a complaint about the start of court action or matters that can be raised as part of court proceedings.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
51match
#20 - Take greater care when reporting SEND attendance statistics to avoid unhelpful comparisons.
Absence rates in special schools have always been significantly higher than in mainstream educational settings. We understand the SEND cohort have higher absences for legitimate and unavoidable reasons, thus making comparisons with other cohorts difficult. We recommend the Department take greater care when reporting these statistics to avoid unhelpful comparisons.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
51match
#3 - Government commitments to a national register of children not in school remain unfulfilled.
The Department monitoring daily school attendance is a welcome step, but further monitoring is needed to identify and support those children not receiving a formal education. We have repeatedly called for a register of children not in school and were glad to see it in the Schools Bill. Although the Bill has been dropped, the Secretary of State,...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
48match
#35 - Conduct further research on attendance barriers for migrant pupils and those with high absence rates.
We heard that pupils with English as an additional language, or migrant pupils face some specific barriers to attendance. Although we asked if pupils from other ethnic minority groups faced barriers to attendance, such as Pakistani pupils, and White and Black Caribbean pupils with above average rates, we found little research or evidence on the topic. The Department...
Matched on
terms: attendance
LGO / SPSO decision
48match
24-004-668 - St Hilda's C of E High School, Liverpool
Summary: Mrs X complained about the School admission arrangements and the way they were applied. Mrs X also complained the admission appeal panel failed to properly consider her appeal for a school place for her child, Y. The School was not at fault and the panel properly considered her appeal.
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
48match
24-005-345 - Pensby High School
complained about a school admissions appeal hearing for her son.
Matched on
terms: school
Committee recommendation
47match
#32 - Respond with data on transport cost support take-up by low-income families.
Transport and uniform costs were identified as barriers to school attendance, especially with recent increases to the cost of living. Although the Department provides extra support to low-income families, such as help with transport costs, it is clear from our evidence that families are not widely taking up these programmes, and therefore, they are not acting as a...
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Committee recommendation
47match
#28 - Lack of authorised mental health absence code burdens families with medical evidence.
Mental health-related absences are not commonly authorised by schools, sometimes due to requirements to provide medical evidence which can often lead to fines or prosecution for families. The introduction of an authorised mental health absence code could eliminate the need for medical evidence in cases of known and established mental health difficulties and reduce the need for intervention...
Matched on
terms: fine, school
LGO / SPSO decision
47match
21-015-344 - London Borough of Haringey
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the conduct of a telephone call about school attendance. Investigation would be unlikely to lead to a worthwhile outcome.
Matched on
terms: attendance, school
Inquiry recommendation
47match
MACP-68 - Require schools to implement anti-racism strategies, record and publish racist incidents
That Local Education Authorities and school Governors have the duty to create and implement strategies in their schools to prevent and address racism. Such strategies to include: that schools record all racist incidents; that all recorded incidents are reported to the pupils' parents/guardians, school Governors and LEAs; that the numbers of racist incidents are published annually, on a...
Matched on
terms: fine, school
Committee recommendation
44match
#10 - Third Report - Strengthening Home Education
Schools should publish their permanent and fixed term exclusion rates by year group every term, including providing information about pupils with SEND and looked- after children. Schools should also publish data on the number of pupils who have left the school.
Matched on
terms: school
Committee recommendation
44match
#8 - Conduct an audit of local authority support for persistent absence and assess EWO funding impact.
The Department should conduct an audit of support provided by local authorities to tackle persistent absence. As part of this, the Department should make an assessment of the impact of providing funding for Education Welfare Officers through schools, compared to centrally funding such roles. (Paragraph 47) Government Interventions
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
44match
24-017-863 - Milton Keynes Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the decision to issue a fixed penalty notice for his child’s unauthorised absence from school. The authority to issue the notice belongs to a school’s headteacher and the Council’s role is only ancillary to that. We have no powers to investigate the actions of a school and there is...
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
43match
21-006-297 - Manchester City Council
Summary: Mrs E complained about how the Council handled her application for home to school transport for her son. We find fault with the way the Council considered Mrs E’s application and appeal. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address the injustice caused by fault.
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
43match
23-020-731 - Gloucestershire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault.
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
43match
23-013-462 - Thurrock Council
Summary: Mrs Y complains the Council took too long to offer a school place to her son, D, when she stopped providing home education. She says D missed a significant amount of education due to the Council’s delay. We find the Council did not comply with the timescales in the statutory guidance and its own policy which caused...
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
43match
24-018-478 - Trafford Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel for us to be able to question its decision.
Matched on
terms: school
LGO / SPSO decision
43match
25-005-327 - North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s school admissions appeal panel refusing her appeal. It is unlikely we would find fault which caused Ms X to lose out on a school place.
Matched on
terms: school