Parents can be fined for failing to return their children to school in September, official guidance said yesterday. School attendance will be mandatory again from the start of the autumn term, meaning parents could face penalties if they do not comply. Hours earlier, the Prime Minister’s spokesman suggested fines would be at headteachers’ discretion. Downing Street told reporters that school heads would be able to judge whether parents should face fines if they refuse to send their children back to school in September. The spokesman said: “Returning to school in September will be mandatory. “It’s always the case that headteachers do have some discretion. They know their pupils and their family situations. “But, in general, children need to get back into school and get back learning again.” The official guidance says: “Missing out on more time in the classroom risks pupils falling further behind. “School attendance will therefore be mandatory again from the beginning of the autumn term. This means from that point, the usual rules on school attendance will apply, including [..] the availability to issue sanctions, including fixed penalty notices in line with local authorities’ codes of conduct.”
