In 2017, there were changes in Local Authority’s procedures for unauthorised absences to let all parents and carers know of the Local Authority’s procedures for unauthorised absence. The threshold for fixed penalty notices issued to parents for non-attendance of their children were significantly reduced.

With this in mind, families with children absent for several days for unauthorised reasons are more likely to receive a fixed penalty notice and families who take students out of school during term time for a family holiday are particularly at risk of this. The full letter from the Local Authority is found below.