Truancy

Sometimes your child will choose not to go to school during term time, or will leave school during the day without the school's permission. This is called truancy.

There can be lots of reasons why a child stops attending school or refuses to go. They may be being bullied, or having trouble making friends, or they may find the school work difficult. Whatever the reason, it is very important for you to find the best way to improve their school attendance.

If your child is truanting

If you think your child might be truanting from school, contact their class teacher, head of year or the headteacher as soon as possible. They can work with you and your child to find out why they are not attending. Sometimes, if the school think it is necessary, and you are still having trouble getting your child to attend school, they will contact an Education Welfare Officer for more help.

Children who are caught truanting

In Kent we work closely with the police to check up on levels of truancy. Kent Police officers often go out on 'truancy sweeps' where they have the right to stop and challenge school age children who are not in school during school hours. Many truants are accompanied by their parents on a shopping trip or day out. Children who are not accompanied may be taken home or back to their school by the police.

Truancy and the law

You can be fined or prosecuted if you do not make sure your child attends school regularly. If it is proved that you were aware of your child's truancy and didn't do anything about it, the fine will be larger and you may even go to prison.