Plans to fine parents £100 for truants
Under new proposals by the Government, parents caught with a child out of school could face an on-the-spot fine of up to £100.
The decision to fine parents if their child plays truant follows three national truancy sweeps in the last year, which caught 48,000 children outside of school.
Police determined that 16,000 were playing truant and, of those, 8,000 were with their parents.
Under the new plans head teachers, police and education officers would have the power to present parents with on-the-spot fines of between £25 and £100.
Education chiefs are unveiling a consultation programme to advise parents they will be held responsible for their children’s anti-social behaviour.
A recent ‘fast track’ initiative introduced fines of up to £2,500 or a three-month jail sentence for parents in a bid to stop persistent truancy. Ministers have made it clear that parents whose children persistently play truant will still be prosecuted.
The Government intends the fixed penalty notices as a “sharp reminder” to parents of their responsibilities.
Truancy rates in England have fallen slightly, but almost half of all pupils in some areas are believed to play truant at one time or another each year.
