Truancy
Regular school attendance is vital for your child's future.
Children who miss school can quickly fall behind in developing
their education and the skills and knowledge to progress.
The law says that children between the ages of 5 -15 must
receive a suitable full-time education. Parents are responsible for
either registering their child at a school or making other
arrangements to provide their child with a suitable full-time
education.
If your child does not go to school regularly, you may be given
a penalty notice or prosecuted. For more information on school
attendance law and action on non-attendance, visit
Directgov - School attendance and truancy: the law (external
link).
The Education Welfare Service (EWS) gives guidance and support
to schools, parents and pupils in school attendance, exclusion and
child employment. Each school has an education welfare officer who
can be contacted through the school or at the local children's
services office. Contact details for children's service offices are
available in the children's
services section (external link) of the Cumbria County Council
website.
If you are worried about your child's attendance, please contact
the school or children's service office. Education welfare officers
can arrange to talk to you at school or in your home.
More information on truancy and parental responsibility can be
found below.