Penalty Notices

 

Harrow Council has brought to the attention of every school in Harrow the powers in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 to tackle poor school attendance.

 

These came into force from the 27 February 2004 and include Penalty Notices, which mean that for learners with unauthorised absence from school (i.e. any absences for which the school has not given permission) their parent(s) or carer(s) may be subject to a fine of either £50 or £100 and failure to pay the penalty notice may result in prosecution.

 

Penalty Notices will be used as a deterrent to prevent a pattern of unauthorised absence developing. They will be issued simply by post to a learner’s home after possibly just one warning and cases of absence without acceptable cause will also include learners taken on excessive holidays in school term time and persistent late attendance after the School Attendance Register has closed.

 

At Harrow High School & Sports College we consider that regular attendance is so important and these new powers so significant, that we are now bringing this change in the law to the attention of every parent or carer with a child in this School.

 

It means that any parent or carer of a learner with a level of unauthorised absence may now have a potential liability in the form of a Penalty Notice issued by the Council. If you believe at any stage that your child’s absence record from school may leave you liable to receive a Penalty Notice it is extremely important that you take action without delay to secure their regular attendance.

 

Support and guidance on attendance is always available and if you have any questions about this or if you need any help to achieve an improvement then please contact us to discuss the situation.

 

Advice and support can also be made available to you through the Education Welfare Service by contacting the Service at:

Children’s Services

429 – 433 Pinner Road,

North Harrow,

Middlesex

HA1 4HN

Telephone: 020-8863-5544 or Fax 020-8861-1816