'The school fines lottery for parents with absent children' diff viewer (2/3)

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~~School fines lottery for parents with absent children~~	The school fines lottery for parents with absent children
2022-09-30 07:44:19 UTC	2022-09-30 08:16:17 UTC (32 minutes later)
Parents in England whose children miss school face harsher penalties depending on where they live, a BBC Panorama investigation has found.	Parents in England whose children miss school face harsher penalties depending on where they live, a BBC Panorama investigation has found.
Fines, which begin at £60, but rise if not paid promptly, totalled more than £8.6m in the past school year.	Fines, which begin at £60, but rise if not paid promptly, totalled more than £8.6m in the past school year.
But some local councils told us no penalties had been issued, while other authorities handed out thousands.	But some local councils told us no penalties had been issued, while other authorities handed out thousands.
Even when differences in population are taken into account, there remain disparities in the number of fines.	Even when differences in population are taken into account, there remain disparities in the number of fines.
In the past school year, Luton had the highest rate - 97 fines per 1,000 pupils. Bolton was not far behind at 89 per 1,000. And yet, in response to a BBC Freedom of Information request, Warrington and City of London councils said they had issued no penalties at all.	In the past school year, Luton had the highest rate - 97 fines per 1,000 pupils. Bolton was not far behind at 89 per 1,000. And yet, in response to a BBC Freedom of Information request, Warrington and City of London councils said they had issued no penalties at all.
When local authorities - working with schools - decide to issue fines to parents whose children have missed significant amounts of education, a child's reason for being absent is supposed to be taken into account. Usually, fines only come at the end of a process of trying to engage with families. If not paid, parents could be prosecuted.	When local authorities - working with schools - decide to issue fines to parents whose children have missed significant amounts of education, a child's reason for being absent is supposed to be taken into account. Usually, fines only come at the end of a process of trying to engage with families. If not paid, parents could be prosecuted.
Children's Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, says children and their parents - especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) - must have "nothing to fear" when seeking support for their particular reasons for being absent.	Children's Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, says children and their parents - especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) - must have "nothing to fear" when seeking support for their particular reasons for being absent.
Claire Huddart - principal of Horizon Community College, a large secondary school in Barnsley - has a five-strong attendance team, looking into the complex reasons why pupils are missing from school. She says fines are very much a last resort.	Claire Huddart - principal of Horizon Community College, a large secondary school in Barnsley - has a five-strong attendance team, looking into the complex reasons why pupils are missing from school. She says fines are very much a last resort.
"If we are working closely with a family and you put in place a fine, that breaks the relationship between home and school. It's so important we keep it positive."	"If we are working closely with a family and you put in place a fine, that breaks the relationship between home and school. It's so important we keep it positive."
Across England, some ongoing cases of persistent absence are a response to the disruption caused by Covid. But many are also because of complex physical or mental health needs - or added challenges beyond a child's control.	Across England, some ongoing cases of persistent absence are a response to the disruption caused by Covid. But many are also because of complex physical or mental health needs - or added challenges beyond a child's control.
In those instances, financial penalties are neither appropriate nor contemplated.	In those instances, financial penalties are neither appropriate nor contemplated.
We spoke to two children who find school challenging, but are being supported to help them attend. Their families were not fined.	We spoke to two children who find school challenging, but are being supported to help them attend. Their families were not fined.
"I was just finding different ways to cope with my grief over my dad," says Bradley	"I was just finding different ways to cope with my grief over my dad," says Bradley
Bradley has navigated a tough few years. It started with the first lockdown when learning moved online.	Bradley has navigated a tough few years. It started with the first lockdown when learning moved online.
"My connection with school, it just departed. I stopped caring. I stopped liking school and I just forgot about it," says the 15-year-old.	"My connection with school, it just departed. I stopped caring. I stopped liking school and I just forgot about it," says the 15-year-old.
But what followed next was devastating. In summer 2021, his dad died from a sudden illness. At the start of the new academic year, Bradley was absent from school.	But what followed next was devastating. In summer 2021, his dad died from a sudden illness. At the start of the new academic year, Bradley was absent from school.
"I was just finding different ways to cope with my grief over my dad," he says. "My school life, when all these things were going on, was very bad."	"I was just finding different ways to cope with my grief over my dad," he says. "My school life, when all these things were going on, was very bad."
He has put his feelings about the loss of his father, and how it affected him, into the lyrics of a rap.	He has put his feelings about the loss of his father, and how it affected him, into the lyrics of a rap.
"Mum wishing that she gets her old son back / But I ain't got no-one to keep me straight and I lost the man that did that."	"Mum wishing that she gets her old son back / But I ain't got no-one to keep me straight and I lost the man that did that."
Mum tells of girl's post-lockdown school struggle	Mum tells of girl's post-lockdown school struggle
Child grief sent me spiralling - but I was lucky	Child grief sent me spiralling - but I was lucky
Head of year teacher, Luke Kirkham, kept reaching out to Bradley to encourage him into school. A few weeks later, he began going in, returning to attending almost every day by the end of the summer term.	Head of year teacher, Luke Kirkham, kept reaching out to Bradley to encourage him into school. A few weeks later, he began going in, returning to attending almost every day by the end of the summer term.
Bradley was allowed a time-out card, a strategy some schools use to let pupils leave the classroom a few times a day if they feel overwhelmed.	Bradley was allowed a time-out card, a strategy some schools use to let pupils leave the classroom a few times a day if they feel overwhelmed.
Mentoring through football: "They balanced one thing I needed with the one thing I love," says Bradley	Mentoring through football: "They balanced one thing I needed with the one thing I love," says Bradley
Another big help has been the mentoring support Bradley has received from a charity called Football Beyond Borders. The teenager says it has helped him talk about his feelings rather than bottle them up - all against the backdrop of playing football.	Another big help has been the mentoring support Bradley has received from a charity called Football Beyond Borders. The teenager says it has helped him talk about his feelings rather than bottle them up - all against the backdrop of playing football.
"I think the reason it helped me so much was because they balanced one thing I needed with the one thing I love," says Bradley.	"I think the reason it helped me so much was because they balanced one thing I needed with the one thing I love," says Bradley.
The combined support at school helped him reach the end of the 2021-22 school year having attended almost every day after the initial absence.	The combined support at school helped him reach the end of the 2021-22 school year having attended almost every day after the initial absence.
This autumn term, he has missed some classes as the family marked the first anniversary of his dad's death - but is now back in school and working towards his GCSEs.	This autumn term, he has missed some classes as the family marked the first anniversary of his dad's death - but is now back in school and working towards his GCSEs.
School absence fines ramp up amid growing concern	School absence fines ramp up amid growing concern
Rise in home schooling 'due to anxiety over Covid'	Rise in home schooling 'due to anxiety over Covid'
Covid closures still affecting 400 million pupils	Covid closures still affecting 400 million pupils
Even when a school tries to do all it can, the system doesn't work for everyone.	Even when a school tries to do all it can, the system doesn't work for everyone.
Abbie, 13, is autistic and has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - which means she has additional needs. She missed more than half of the 2021-22 school year - at least 100 days.	Abbie, 13, is autistic and has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - which means she has additional needs. She missed more than half of the 2021-22 school year - at least 100 days.
In her primary school, Abbie flourished - she was confident enough to sing and take part in shows. And even when she moved on to a grammar school aged 11, because of the pandemic restrictions, school days were relatively calm. Pupils were taught in the same classroom all day and movement around buildings was carefully controlled - with social distancing between "bubbles" of pupils.	In her primary school, Abbie flourished - she was confident enough to sing and take part in shows. And even when she moved on to a grammar school aged 11, because of the pandemic restrictions, school days were relatively calm. Pupils were taught in the same classroom all day and movement around buildings was carefully controlled - with social distancing between "bubbles" of pupils.
But when restrictions eased in autumn 2021, there was a return to crowded corridors and break times. For Abbie it created constant overload - because she is more sensitive to sound and touch than other teenagers.	But when restrictions eased in autumn 2021, there was a return to crowded corridors and break times. For Abbie it created constant overload - because she is more sensitive to sound and touch than other teenagers.
"I didn't know what a burnout was until I was told I was in one," says Abbie	"I didn't know what a burnout was until I was told I was in one," says Abbie
"I started to find it really challenging, because it was all these different sensory things that were all of these people talking."	"I started to find it really challenging, because it was all these different sensory things that were all of these people talking."
As term went on, she became more distressed and anxious - sometimes she could barely sleep. Her parents - who are both teachers - say the school tried to help, but nothing worked. In January this year, Abbie's doctor diagnosed her with autistic burnout.	As term went on, she became more distressed and anxious - sometimes she could barely sleep. Her parents - who are both teachers - say the school tried to help, but nothing worked. In January this year, Abbie's doctor diagnosed her with autistic burnout.