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.
A penalty notice costs £60.00 per parent, per child. For example:
- a single parent with one absent child: £60.00
- a single parent with two absent children: £120.00
- two parents with one absent child: £120.00
- two parents with two absent children: £240.00
After 21 days, this increases to £120.00 per parent, per child.
If you haven’t paid after 28 days, your case may be referred to court.
