Truancy

Truancy

Education Welfare Advisers give support and advice to parents and carers of young people with attendance difficulties and offer help in getting a place in a school if necessary, although finding a school place remains parents/carers responsibility. 

Truancy and your child
If your child is between five and 16 and is registered with a school, you are legally responsible for making sure they attend school regularly. Talking to your child and their teachers may help to stop truancy.

School attendance and the law
Local authorities (LAs) are legally responsible for making sure that parents/carers of children aged between five and 16 provide their children with an education either at home or at school.

If your child is registered with a school but is not regularly attending and you have not been able to resolve difficulties with the school, an Education Welfare Adviser may become involved.

If you do not co-operate with the Education Welfare Adviser and school, the LA may impose an Education Supervision Order through a court.

This order appoints a supervisor to help and give advice to you and your child.

Repeated truancy can result in fines and possibly even time in prison for parents. Prosecution can result in a fine of up to £2,500, a jail sentence of up to three months or a community sentence.

Truancy: what you can do
You can help to prevent your child from skipping school by:

• making sure your child understands the importance of good attendance and getting to school on time
• taking an interest in your child’s education – ask about school work and encourage involvement in school activities
• listening to your child when they tell you about problems at school and informing their teacher or head teacher about serious problems.

If your child starts missing school against your wishes, first talk to their teacher or form tutor. They might be able to advise you about problems that your child may be having at school.

You can also talk to an Education Welfare Adviser by calling 020 8753 2877.

Find out more about school attendance and your responsibilities
Find more information on truancy from the Parents' Centre