Pay your penalty notice (school attendance fine)
You will receive a penalty notice if your child misses school during term time and the reason you give is not ‘exceptional’. This is also known as a school attendance fine.
Find out more about missing school and your responsibilities as a parent.
Receiving a penalty notice
We will send the notice by post to your home address. We allow 2 days for delivery time before your notice period starts.
There’s no right of appeal.
How much it costs
If you’ve received a penalty notice, you should pay it as soon as possible to avoid any further charges.
- First notice: £160 if paid within 28 days (reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days)
- Second notice: (issued to the same parent for the same child): £160 if paid within 28 days
What happens after two penalty notices
There will not be a third notice to the same parent for the same child within three years. We may take other action, such as prosecution.
After three years a further notice may be issued, but usually we will pursue prosecution.
