Penalty notice code of conduct

Penalty notices may be issued to a parent as an alternative to prosecution for irregular school attendance under s444 of the Education Act 1996.  They can only be issued in relation to pupils of compulsory school age in maintained schools, pupil referral units, academy schools, AP academies, and certain off- site places as set out in section 444A(1)(b).

The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) Regulations 2007 (and subsequent amendments) set out how penalty notices for school absence must be used.

A penalty notice can only be issued by an authorised officer, which for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council will be the local authority officer.

The national framework for penalty notices is published in statutory guidance 'Working Together to Improve School Attendance.'  It provides further national guidance on the operation of penalty notice schemes for school absence in England.