Struggling to get child to school? Help is available

PARENTS URGED TO SEEK AID OR RISK FINES

- By CARL EVE

While truancy can be an issue, some parents have also said mental health issues are stopping children from wanting to go to school

AS the new academic year begins, Plymouth parents are being urged to seek help if they are struggling to get their children to school - or risk sanctions or even hefty fines.

The Department for Education (DfE) recently said “every moment in school counts and days missed add up quickly” and parents have long been threatened with punitive action for failing to ensure children attend school.

In July, Plymouth parents were alerted by Plymouth City Council to a change in the “national framework for penalty notices” which came into effect on August 19.

The new rules - brought in by the previous Conservative Government and must be applied by every local authority - will see an increase in the penalty fine from £60 to £80 if paid within the first 21 days. If the fine is not paid in that time, it will rise to £160 - if paid within 28 days of the fine being issued. But if a second penalty fine is issued to the same parent for the same child within a three-year rolling period, the fine will automatically rise to £160 with no option to pay the lower rate of £80.

Parents and carers will be warned that if they then commit a third offence in a three-year rolling period “the local authority will need to consider other enforcement options available to them”.