questionText: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the school absence fine system; what guidance is provided to local authorities on (a) determining exceptional circumstances, (b) ensuring consistent application of fines and (c) offering flexible payment terms for families experiencing financial hardship; and whether she plans to review the system to ensure it supports families facing difficulties.
answerText: The department’s ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ statutory guidance provides support for local authorities on the application of penalty notices, including a national framework for issuing fixed penalty notices designed to embed our suppor...
heading: Schools: Absenteeism