Education welfare service
For Schools only
Fines for missing school
From August 2024, the fine for low school attendance and term time holidays are changing.
The Education Welfare Service (EWS) is responsible for attendance audits in schools. All the schools in North East Lincolnshire send termly attendance reports to the EWS so absence levels can be monitored.
School attendance
You must make sure your child gets a full-time education either at school or by educating at home yourself. Colleges, Universities and employers want to recruit people who are reliable, and children with a poor attendance record are less likely to secure further education and employment.
If a child’s attendance becomes a concern, the school will contact their Education Welfare Officer and request action is taken. The Education Welfare Service is here to support parents, but if your child’s attendance doesn’t improve, enforcement action may be taken which could result in prosecution. The Education Welfare Officers also carry out truancy patrols with Humberside Police.
Fixed penalty notice
Fixed penalty notices are requested by schools for:
- low school attendance
- term time holidays
- being in a public place during school hours when excluded from school
Fixed penalty notices issued within the 2023/24 academic year is £60 if paid within 21 days. It will rise to £120 if paid between 21 and 28 days.
Request an Education Welfare penalty notice – Schools Only
Fines for missing school – August 2024
All schools are now required to consider requesting a fine when a child has missed 10 sessions* (5 days) or more of school for unauthorised reasons.
Penalty notice fines will be issued to each parent (including step parents), for each child who is absent from school without permission or good reason.
*The school day is split into two sessions – one session counts as a morning or afternoon spent in school.
First offence
The first time a penalty notice is issued for term time leave or low attendance will be:
£80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days
£160 per parent per child when paid within 28 days
Second offence
(within a 3 year period)
£160 per parent per child to be paid within 28 days
Third offence
( further offences within a 3 year period)
The 3rd time a penalty notice is issued the case will be presented straight to the Magistrates Court. Fines of up to £2500 per parent per child can be issued.
Cases found guilty in Magistrates Court can show up on parents future DBS certificates as a failure to safeguard a child’s education.
5 consecutive days of term time leave
Fines will be issued for term time leave of 5 or more consecutive days. Inset days are school days and can be included in the 5 or more consecutive days if there was intent to be absent.
The LA can issue fines for less than 5 days, under certain circumstances.
10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10 – week period
Fines will be considered when there have been 10 sessions of unauthorised absence in a 10-week period. This can go over school holidays.
Contact details
Education Welfare Service, New Oxford House, 2 George Street, Grimsby, DN31 1HB
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01472 326291 option 1
Opening times: Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5pm and Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, except bank holidays
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