What is my legal duty in relation to school attendance?

By law, all children between 5 and 16* must have an appropriate full time education. You are responsible for making sure this happens by

• registering your child at a school
• ensuring that your child attends school regularly
  OR
• by making other arrangements to provide your child with an efficient education suited to age*, ability and aptitude, and to any special educational needs

* Compulsory school age: From 1st September, 1st January, 1st April following the child's fifth birthday to the last Friday in June in the school year in which the child is sixteen (1st September to 31st August)

Remember:

"If a child of compulsory school age who is a registered pupil at a school fails to attend regularly at the school, his parent is guilty of an offence"
Education Act 1996, Section 444