What is the Minister's assessment of the effectiveness of fixed penalty notices issued by local authorities in Wales to parents of children who have been absent from school, in improving attendance?
Answered by Minister for Education and the Welsh Language | Answered on 15/01/2024
The Welsh Government guidance is clear that fines should be used as part of a package of intervention and support strategies to improve attendance. They should be used only in extreme cases, when all efforts to engage the family have been tried and failed in having an impact. A warning rather than a penalty should normally be issued in the first instance, and in most cases, this is enough to raise awareness of the severity of the attendance issue and lead to improved attendance.