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30th December 2024
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School absence prosecutions
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I’m looking into the number of prosecutions and fines for non-attendance at school, particularly by families of children with special educational needs and disabilities. I am requesting the following information under the Freedom of Information Act.
Can you answer the four questions below for the most recent six full academic years for which data is available (ie. 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25). For each academic year, please provide:
1. The total number of prosecutions initiated by the Local Authority against parents under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for their child's non-attendance at school.
2. The number of prosecutions initiated by the Local Authority against parents under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for their child's non-attendance at school, where the child concerned had an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) at the time the prosecution was initiated.
3. The total number of fixed penalty notices issued by the Local Authority against parents under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for their child's non-attendance at school, where the child involved had an Education, Health and Care Plan at the time the fine was issued.
4. The amount of money raised by the local authority through fixed penalty notices issued against parents under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for non-attendance at school, where the child involved had an Education, Health and Care Plan at the time the fine was issued.
