School attendance rules in the UK can feel strict and sometimes confusing. You may hear terms like “persistent absence,” “authorised,” “unauthorised,” or “penalty notice,” yet never receive a clear explanation of how these categories work or what they mean for your child.
This guide is written specifically for UK parents and designed to be the most comprehensive and easy-to-understand explanation available. You’ll learn how attendance is monitored, what counts as authorised or unauthorised, the steps schools follow before issuing fines, and what to do if your child’s attendance becomes a concern.
Why Schools Are So Focused on Attendance
Attendance is linked closely to learning outcomes, wellbeing, safeguarding, and future attainment. Even small dips add up. Missing one day every two weeks equates to around 19 days per year — almost a full month of missed teaching. Over several years, this can create learning gaps that are difficult to close, especially in reading, maths, and GCSE subjects.
But attendance isn’t only about academics. When children miss lessons frequently, they may feel disconnected from classmates, fall behind socially, and find it harder to reintegrate. Schools must also ensure they know where every child is each day for safeguarding reasons, which is why unexplained absences trigger immediate checks.
How the Law Defines School Attendance
Under the Education Act 1996, parents are legally responsible for ensuring that their child attends school “regularly.” The Act does not define exact percentages, but the Department for Education’s working definition expects children to attend school every day unless there is a compelling reason otherwise.
Crucially, parents can provide a reason for absence, but only the school can decide whether it is authorised. They follow national and local authority guidelines when making that judgement.
You can read the official rules here:
https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence
Authorised Absences: When Schools Agree to the Time Off
Authorised absences are those the school finds acceptable and necessary. These usually include genuine illness, unavoidable medical appointments, religious observances, family bereavement, and other exceptional circumstances.
When a child is ill, a parent’s explanation is normally enough. If patterns of frequent illness or repeated “Monday absences” appear, the school may request medical evidence — not to challenge the parent’s honesty, but to understand whether there is an underlying issue such as anxiety, bullying, sleep problems, or unmet SEN needs.
For religious holidays, schools are expected to authorise absences for days within the recognised faith calendar. Medical appointments should ideally be scheduled outside school hours, but unavoidable appointments are almost always authorised.
What Counts as an Unauthorised Absence
Unauthorised absences occur when the school decides the reason does not meet the criteria for authorisation. Typical examples are term-time holidays, shopping trips, birthdays, tiredness, minor aches, oversleeping, or simply choosing to keep a child at home.
One of the most misunderstood points is term-time holidays. Schools cannot approve them for financial reasons, even when trips are significantly cheaper outside peak season. The circumstances must be “exceptional,” which in practice is interpreted very strictly. A once-in-a-lifetime family event or the funeral of a close relative might count, but general holidays do not.
If you choose a holiday during term time, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised, and depending on your local authority’s policy, you may receive a penalty notice.
When Attendance Drops: What Schools Are Required to Do
The Department for Education defines children with attendance below 90% as Persistently Absent (PA). This is a key threshold. When attendance approaches or falls below this level, schools must take formal steps, which typically include:
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Monitoring patterns and identifying causes.
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Inviting parents to an attendance meeting.
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Creating an Attendance Support Plan or similar intervention.
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Involving pastoral teams, SENCO, or family support workers if needed.
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Referring the case to the local authority if the situation does not improve.
The goal at this stage is support, not punishment. Schools understand that low attendance often has complex causes — anxiety, friendship issues, family stress, hidden SEN, transport problems, or wellbeing concerns.
If school refusal or anxiety is involved, you may find this relevant:
https://allschools.co.uk/resources/helping-shy-children-build-confidence-at-school
Penalty Notices and Fines: What Parents Need to Know
If unauthorised absences continue, the local authority can issue a Penalty Notice. This usually happens in cases such as repeated unauthorised holidays, ongoing unexplained absences, or parents failing to engage with attendance support.
How much is the fine?
Penalty Notices vary by council, but the most common structure is:
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£80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days
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£160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days
This means that two parents taking two children out of school could face a fine of £320–£640.
What happens if you don’t pay?
If you do not pay the fine, the local authority can escalate the case to a criminal prosecution under the Education Act. In the most serious scenarios (rare, but possible), courts can issue:
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Larger fines up to £2,500
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Parenting orders
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Community orders
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In extreme cases, custodial sentences
The overwhelming majority of cases never reach this stage because support usually resolves the issue before fines become necessary.
How Schools and Authorities Decide to Issue a Fine
Schools do not issue fines themselves — they make recommendations to the local authority, which then reviews the case. Authorities examine:
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The total number of unauthorised absences
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The reasons provided
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The child’s overall attendance history
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Whether early support has taken place
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Whether the family cooperated with the school
Fines are not automatic. Some councils issue them more quickly than others, but the principle is the same: they are intended to discourage repeated or unnecessary time off.
Emotional-Based School Avoidance (EBSA): When Anxiety Causes Absence
A growing number of pupils struggle with emotional-based school avoidance. These absences may initially be unauthorised, but once a pattern is recognised, schools shift toward support through pastoral staff, wellbeing leads, and the SENCO.
Evidence-based help often includes:
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Reduced timetables
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Safe spaces in school
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Check-ins with trusted adults
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Social or mental health interventions
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Referral to CAMHS or Early Help teams
For SEND-related absences, this guide may help:
https://allschools.co.uk/resources/the-ultimate-guide-to-sen-support-and-ehcps-for-parents
Real Examples to Make the Rules Clear
The “routine headache” pattern:
A Year 4 child repeatedly stays home with headaches on PE days. The school calls a meeting, and it emerges the child is anxious about PE changing rooms. Absences remain authorised temporarily while a plan is put in place.
The long weekend illness:
A secondary pupil is frequently off on Fridays. The school notices a pattern and invites parents for a conversation. After investigation, nothing medical is identified, and the absences remain unauthorised. The family works with the school to reset routines before fines become necessary.
The family emergency abroad:
A pupil leaves the country suddenly due to a grandparent’s critical illness. With evidence, schools often authorise the absence in full or in part. Compassion plays a role, but each case is judged individually.
How to Avoid Attendance Problems: What Parents Can Do
The most effective step is early communication. Schools rarely escalate when they know what is happening and when parents keep them informed. If patterns emerge — tiredness, reluctance to get ready, stomach aches, headaches — treat these as early signs that something may need exploring.
Check sleep routines, screen habits, and emotional wellbeing. Consider whether friendship problems or workload stress are factors. If academics are an issue, this guide may help:
https://allschools.co.uk/resources/what-to-do-if-your-child-is-struggling-academically-before-hiring-a-tutor
As soon as you sense attendance declining, contact the school. They can deploy far more support than most parents realise.
If You Believe the School Has Made the Wrong Decision
You can request clarification from the headteacher and ask how the decision aligns with local and national guidance. Every school has a published attendance policy, and every trust or local authority has its own attendance code interpretation. If you still disagree, you can follow the school’s formal complaints procedure.
Schools do not gain anything from refusing authorisation — in fact, they often spend hours on administration and meetings because of unauthorised absences. Clear communication is almost always the most effective approach.
Helpful External Resources
Government Attendance Guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence
NHS: When to Keep Children Off School:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/
Final Thoughts
School attendance rules can be complex, but understanding them helps families avoid stress, misunderstandings, and unnecessary fines. Once you know what counts as authorised, how unauthorised absence is recorded, and the steps schools must follow, the system becomes far easier to navigate.
Above all, strong communication between families and schools is the best way to prevent problems — and to ensure your child gets the support they need to thrive both academically and emotionally.
