School attendance

You will be prosecuted at the magistrate's court if:

• You ask for a hearing because you want to challenge the fixed penalty notice
• You do not pay the fine in full within 28 days of receiving the fixed penalty notice
• We have decided to prosecute you instead of issuing a fixed penalty notice

You will be prosecuted for the alleged offence of allowing your child to be absent from school without authorisation.

If the court finds you guilty, you could get a fine of up to £2,500 or a prison sentence of up to 3 months. You may also have to pay court costs.