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| School truancies lead to rise in prosecution of parents | School truancies lead to rise in prosecution of parents |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The number of parents taken to court in England because of children skipping school rose sharply last year, official figures show. | The number of parents taken to court in England because of children skipping school rose sharply last year, official figures show. |
| In 2014, 16,430 people were prosecuted for failing to ensure their children went to school, an increase of more than 3,000 - or 25% - on 2013. | |
| Ministry of Justice figures, obtained by the Press Association, revealed more than three-quarters were found guilty. | Ministry of Justice figures, obtained by the Press Association, revealed more than three-quarters were found guilty. |
| Head teachers' leaders said good attendance was "absolutely critical". | Head teachers' leaders said good attendance was "absolutely critical". |
| Crackdown breakdown | Crackdown breakdown |
| The rise follows a crackdown on children missing school, including new rules on term-time holidays, which were introduced two years ago. | The rise follows a crackdown on children missing school, including new rules on term-time holidays, which were introduced two years ago. |
| The 2014 figures, gathered in a freedom of information request to the Ministry of Justice, show: | The 2014 figures, gathered in a freedom of information request to the Ministry of Justice, show: |
| Parents can be issued with on-the-spot penalty notices of £60 per child by schools, rising to £120 if unpaid after three weeks, if their child has an unauthorised absence. | Parents can be issued with on-the-spot penalty notices of £60 per child by schools, rising to £120 if unpaid after three weeks, if their child has an unauthorised absence. |
| Failure to pay, or incurring two or more fines, can lead to parents being referred to the local authority's education welfare service, which has the power to take them to court. | Failure to pay, or incurring two or more fines, can lead to parents being referred to the local authority's education welfare service, which has the power to take them to court. |
| Courts can issue maximum fines of £2,500 or jail sentences of up to three months. | Courts can issue maximum fines of £2,500 or jail sentences of up to three months. |
| "Good attendance is absolutely critical to the education and future prospects of young people," according to Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. | "Good attendance is absolutely critical to the education and future prospects of young people," according to Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. |
| "Schools have rightly responded to this overwhelming evidence by taking a strong line in identifying when children are absent without a valid reason, particularly where there is persistent truancy." | "Schools have rightly responded to this overwhelming evidence by taking a strong line in identifying when children are absent without a valid reason, particularly where there is persistent truancy." |
| But David Simmonds, of the Local Government Association, said the increase in fines reflected "tighter enforcement by schools that are under pressure from Ofsted to meet attendance targets", as well as a rising school population. | But David Simmonds, of the Local Government Association, said the increase in fines reflected "tighter enforcement by schools that are under pressure from Ofsted to meet attendance targets", as well as a rising school population. |
| He called for more flexibility in the rules to allow heads to take account of family circumstances where absence was unavoidable. | He called for more flexibility in the rules to allow heads to take account of family circumstances where absence was unavoidable. |
| They "should be trusted to make decisions about a child's absence from school without being forced to issue fines and start prosecutions in situations where they believe the absence is reasonable", he said. | They "should be trusted to make decisions about a child's absence from school without being forced to issue fines and start prosecutions in situations where they believe the absence is reasonable", he said. |
| 'Last resort' | |
| Rachel Burrows, of the parenting website Netmums, said a fine or threat of jail could be enough to make parents understand the seriousness of their child missing school. | Rachel Burrows, of the parenting website Netmums, said a fine or threat of jail could be enough to make parents understand the seriousness of their child missing school. |
| However, she warned there was no one-size-fits-all solution. | |
| "In many cases, the family may be in crisis or face issues such as a parent with mental health problems or addictions. | |
| "In these cases, fines or jail won't help, as the mum or dad needs professional support to turn their lives around and be a better parent." | |
| Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, which has produced guidance on truancy, said fines and sanctions should be a last resort. | Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, which has produced guidance on truancy, said fines and sanctions should be a last resort. |
| "Persistent and extended absence must be tackled by schools with support and dialogue first," he said. | "Persistent and extended absence must be tackled by schools with support and dialogue first," he said. |
| "Equally, though, government must do what it can to support families. Cutbacks to essential services can increase the barriers to attendance." | "Equally, though, government must do what it can to support families. Cutbacks to essential services can increase the barriers to attendance." |
| Are you a parent or teacher affected by the issues raised in this story? You can share your comments by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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