Parenting Orders - Non School Attendance
Parenting Orders are made by Magistrates under the
Crime and Disorder Act 1998(as amended), following the conviction
of parents/carers for failing to send their child(ren) to school
regularly.
Any parent/carer that a young child lives with, can be given an
order. A parent/carer who is not living with the child but has
regular contact may also be issued with a Parenting Order.
Before Magistrates decide to issue a Parenting Order they will
consider information contained in a Parenting Assessment. This
assessment will usually be undertaken at a meeting with your
Education Welfare Officer who will write a report that will be
shared with both you and the Magistrates. If the Magistrates feel
that you may benefit from a Parenting Order they can impose one
upon you.
The Parenting Order is not a voluntary Order and will require you
to attend Parenting Classes for a period of usually 12 weeks. The
Parenting Order may be given for a period of up to 12 months and
could require you to have regular contact with a Supervising
Officer during the length of the Order.
If you fail to comply with a Parenting Order, you will be given a
written warning. Further failure to comply will result in you being
taken back to court.
If convicted you could be liable for a fine of up to
£1000.