Understanding Truancy Laws

There are many different reasons why a child may play truant, but not only are they jeopardising their education, they are putting their parents into the firing line of the law.

Education and the Law

In the United Kingdom, children between the ages of 5 to 16 are obliged by law to receive a satisfactory level of full-time education, and parents should enforce this. However, there are children who are not receiving this level of full-time education because of the amount of time they spent playing truant, which is classed as unsanctioned time off. A teacher or head teacher has an obligation to ascertain from the child’s parents – in conjunction with a school welfare officer – why this truancy is taking place.

Why Children Play Truant

There most common reasons that children play truant are:

• Bullying
• Anti-social and unruly behaviour
• Problems in the family home
• Undiagnosed behavioural or emotional problems
• General dislike of school

What Can Be Done to Combat Truancy?

The problem of lost educational time due to truancy is one that all schools have to face from time to time. The instances of truancy may be limited to one or two individuals or it can be attributed to a gang of pupils who have the same disliking for school. Either way the problem needs to be addressed and dealt with as quickly as possible.

One way is to monitor exactly when children are in class. This can be done by having them sign attendance cards which are then signed by their parents and returned to the child’s teacher. In some cases, the children who are playing truant can find themselves in the care of a learning mentor who may be able to (a) help them learn and (b) establish what the underlying problem is?

Parenting Contracts

Another option is to have parents sign up to a Parenting Contract; this written agreement is entered into between the parents of the child playing truant and also the local authority and school. These parenting contracts are not a legal and binding document, however, they are simply a means of attempting to engage the parents of the child in question in order to help them understand and deal with any behavioural issues the child may have.

Fines for Truancy

If a local authority decides that the circumstances surrounding persistent truancy are not being managed – or indeed are being influenced – by a parent, they can seek to prosecute the parent. This prosecution carries with it a hefty fine of up to £2,500 and, if the fine is not paid or the truancy continues, a magistrate can opt for a custodial sentence and also the intervention of social services.

For more information you should contact your Local Education Authority or your child’s school.