Throughout the school holidays Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has continued to prosecute parents who ignore their child’s absence from school and fail to co-operate with services to resolve any problems.
Last month (August), six cases were brought before local magistrates’ courts and parents were fined as part of the Council’s ongoing work to improve school attendance and hold parents to account for neglecting their child’s education.
The latest cases have included the parents of a primary school pupil being fined a total of £700 with a further £100 payable for court costs.
Director for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, Mike Keating said:
“This fine was one of the highest recorded fines handed out in Rhondda Cynon Taf and it is a clear message to parents and care providers that taking your child out of school during term time will not be tolerated! Both the Council and the courts are commitment to ensuring that children and young people receive the education they are entitled to.
“Rhondda Cynon Taf is committed to providing supportive services to children, young people and their families and improving school attendance is one of the key priorities for the Local Authority.
“Taking parents to court for poor school attendance is considered to be the Council’s “last resort” but regrettably there are some instances where parents’ inability to manage their child’s attendance or an apparent lack of concern for their child’s education, or even in some cases, the condoning by parents of persistent non-attendance at school, will lead to court proceedings.
“During the academic year 2008-9 there were thirty-five cases brought before magistrates with fines totalling £3126 plus costs of over £1200 awarded to the Local Authority.”
The Education Welfare Service works closely with schools to identify those pupils whose attendance is causing concern with almost all referrals being followed up by a home visit so that families have an opportunity to explain the reasons for absence or to ask for any help and support they may need to ensure their child attends school on a regular basis. Supportive parents are key to overcoming difficulties with attendance and the Council’s dedicated Education Welfare Officer is currently working with schools and parents across the County Borough to strengthen the links between school and home.
If a parent or carer is experiencing difficulties with school attendance please contact the relevant school or the Education Welfare Service on 01443 744000.
