Do you think a child is being kept off school?
If you think a child is being kept out of school
The law requires parents to make sure their children receive a full-time education suitable to their needs. For most children this means attending school regularly. As a last resort, schools and local authorities have legal powers to deal with poor attendance.
School attendance and absence: the law
By law, all children of compulsory school age (five to 16) must receive a suitable full-time education. For most parents, this means registering their child at a school - though some choose to make other arrangements to provide a suitable, full-time education.
Once your child is registered at a school, you are legally responsible for making sure they attend regularly. If your child fails to do so, you risk getting a penalty notice or being prosecuted.
Action on school attendance
A child registered at a school can legally miss school only in very limited circumstances. These include:
- when the child is too ill to attend
- when the school has authorised the absence beforehand
If you think a child is being kept out of school, please contact the local school in your area.
A list of schools can be found using the Manchester City Council schoolfinder.
