The Law says that all children must receive an education.
Where parents have registered their child at school, the Law
expects them to fulfil their responsibility in ensuring that their
child attends regularly.
The Education Welfare Service help if any problems arise and we
will suggest strategies to try to improve the situation. However,
if your child is not attending regularly and other suggested
interventions haven't worked, the Government requires us to
consider taking court action.
Before we take this step, we will invite you to a formal meeting
in order to assess the situation and try to find a positive way
forward. You will be given a formal caution regarding possible
court action at this meeting.
If court action is taken, it will be one (or both) of the
following:
- Prosecution through the Magistrates' Court (i.e. taking the
parents to court) where a fine, imprisonment, Parenting or Curfew
Order can be imposed
- Prosecution through the Family Proceedings Court if we consider
that the young person is beyond parental control as regards going
to school. A Supervision Order can be granted here or, again a
Parenting Order.
If we are considering court action, we will consult with you at
every stage and you and your child will be given plenty of
opportunity to improve her/his attendance without going to court.
However, this will be time limited as the Government requires that
we consider fast track prosecutions wherever possible.
Please work with the school's Education Welfare Officer to
improve your child's attendance so that court action can be
avoided.
Guidance to schools and parents
Factsheets
