Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to parents facing financial hardship who are issued with penalty notices for their child’s non‑attendance at school.

The law entitles every child of compulsory school age to an efficient, full-time education and it is the legal responsibility of every parent to make sure their child receives that education. Our guidance emphasises a support first approach and makes clear that fines and legal intervention should only be used where support has been exhausted, not engaged with, or is not appropriate. Fines remain one part of our system for reducing school absence, therefore the amount must reflect the potential short and longer-term impact of absence on the pupil, their teachers, and other pupils at the school. If parents cannot afford to pay a school attendance penalty notice, they should contact their local council immediately to explain their financial situation, as they may be able to offer guidance or support.