Parenting contracts
A Parenting Contract is a voluntary agreement between a parent and/or carer, the school and the Local Authority (LA), in order to improve the attendance of children and young people. This intervention identifies clear actions, with all parties named being accountable for their roles and responsibilities. This may be used in evidence and presented to the Magistrates Court, should it be deemed that an offence has been committed under Section 4441a of the Education Act 1996.
Section 444 – Education Act 1996
Offence: failure to secure regular attendance at school of registered pupil.
(1) 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.
1(1A) If in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) the parent knows that his child is failing to attend regularly at the school and fails.... to cause him to do so, he is guilty of an offence.
At each meeting an agreement is drawn up based upon the full assessment of the situation. This agreement clearly identifies each party’s responsibilities for resolving the presenting problem. Where the parental actions agreed at the Parenting Contract Meeting are not complied with and unauthorised absence continues, legal intervention will be instigated against the parent(s)/carer(s).
Attendance and Children Missing Education Team
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