Have You Been Fined For School Absences While Waiting For Support?

Mary_Scope

I saw this BBC News article and wanted to share it here…

Fines for school absences are a major issue for lots of parents with disabled children so it’s encouraging to see celebrities using their platform to campaign for disabled children and their families.

Anna Maxwell Martin joined parent campaigners at 10 Downing Street to hand over a petition with over 290,000 signatures demanding an end to school absence fines.

The "No School Fines" campaign was started by parents Susan Liverman and Maddie Roberts after they faced threats of prosecution while trying to get proper Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support for their kids.

Campaigners argue that fining families, especially those whose children are struggling with attendance due to long waiting lists for SEND support just causes immense stress for families without fixing why children miss school.

Fines in England start at £80 and doubles to £160 for repeat absences and can even escalate to court fines up to £2,500 or potential prison sentences.

The Department for Education maintains that fines have a "vital place," though they're urging that schools should take a "support-first approach".

What do you think?

Have you faced fines while waiting for further support for your child?

Dynamisante

rosejatty

rosejatty

Ues I've been fined also my son under send ehcp plan twice was fined

Dynamisante

Yes, been fined many times in the past, both my husband and myself had to pay the fines each !!, personally I think it’s disgusting, we had to fight for our own children's ‘right to learn’ they were actually learning more from ‘living in the real world ‘ than school was teaching them, the local authorities say that a child has to attend school, yes that’s all great, but what if schools can’t give them what they need to learn ?