The UK government has responded to a petition urging a prohibition on penalizing parents for taking their children out of school. The petition, named ‘Legislate to ban FPNs and prosecutions related to school attendance’, gathered substantial support since its launch in late March on the Parliament website. Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) in the UK are typically issued for minor infractions like traffic violations and environmental offenses such as littering or dog fouling.
According to the petition, penalties imposed on parents for withdrawing their children from school peaked in the previous academic year (2024-25). The petitioner, Natalie Elliott, contends that FPNs are ineffective and unfairly target families, labeling them as a disguised tax.
The petition asserts that the attendance regulations are being misused, claiming that schools are marking legitimate absences as unauthorized. Ms. Elliott argues that this practice, which includes absences due to illness, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and family emergencies, is creating a rift between schools and families.
Within a month of its launch, the petition garnered over 35,000 signatures, surpassing the threshold required for a debate in the House of Commons. Natalie urged a legislative change to abolish FPNs and prosecutions, advocating for a shift towards cooperation rather than punitive measures.
In response to the petition, a spokesperson from the Department for Education (DfE) stated that the government has no plans to outlaw fixed penalty notices or prosecutions for non-attendance. They emphasized that these measures influence parental behavior when other forms of support have been exhausted or deemed inadequate.
The spokesperson highlighted that the majority of penalty notices issued in 2024-25 were related to “unauthorized term-time holidays,” indicating that FPNs are primarily used in cases where other forms of support are deemed unsuitable.
The government’s stance is grounded in the Education Act 1996, which mandates parents to ensure their school-aged child receives a full-time education, either through school attendance or alternative arrangements. Exceptions are acknowledged for circumstances like illness, religious observance, authorized absence, or when the local authority fails to provide necessary support.
The statement further emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts between schools, local authorities, and parents to address non-attendance issues. The government maintains that the existing system, which prioritizes support and intervention tailored to individual cases, is the most effective approach to uphold a child’s right to education.
