Do previous school fines count in the new framework?

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Hi

I have been reading up on the new penalty notices for term time absences, starting in September.

I largely understand them, and am not looking for loads of messages moaning about them please.

I am searching for one piece of information only, which I just can’t seem to find online - so I’m hoping maybe there are some people here who work in education or have had this info provided by their schools already:

Are fines previously received counted within the new framework, or is it a “clean slate” from September?

For example - we were fined earlier this year. If we get another one after the new rules start does this ping us straight to “second offence” or will it count as a “first offence”?

I have emailed DfE but no doubt will take an age to get a vague non-answer!

Thanks

Thank you for posting this as I also want to know

I would like to know this too!

I really don't know but I'd probably bet on them NOT wiping the slate clean as it'd make more money that way...
Call me cynical.

This suggests you can have 2 fines in a 3 year period and then it moves to something else.
By the fact they are bringing it in in August, I would suggest September 2024 is when it ‘starts’.

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/29/fines-for-parents-for-taking-children-out-of-school-what-you-need-to-know/

I have previously worked with school attendance service in the issuing of fines but I don’t currently work in that area.

From my reading of the new system it will start in September with a clean slate for everyone as the responsibility is moving from different bodies to be on schools to enforce. (As an aside this is additional responsibility for schools with no additional funding).

I think if you have previously been fined under the old system it will not roll over into the new system.

I wouldn’t take that as thinking it is ok to start booking your term time holidays though but I accept I may be in a MN minority thinking that.

Hi, did you ever get a response from the department of education regarding whether or penalty fines count before the new rules come into effect?

Hi all.
just to let you know I received this response direct from the Department for Education:

‘The new rules concerning penalty notices for school attendance come into effect on 19th August 2024, ahead of the new school year. Penalty notices from before this date will not count towards the escalation whereby a second penalty notice within a rolling three year period is charged at a flat rate of £160, and there is a limit of 2 penalty notices within a rolling three year period. Further information on penalty notices can be found in chapter 6 (point 175-201) of the DfE’s attendance guidance’

So, looks like the new school year starts afresh with the ‘3 strikes’. Whew!

Hope that helps 😊

Hi, I know is this is an older thread but I'm wondering where you stand if the absence was prior to the new rules coming in but the penalty notice is issued after? We took our kids out a couple of weeks ago and are expecting a fine but I've heard it can take months for the fine to be issued. So would that then count as strike 1?

Hi. What area are you in? I’m in East Riding . Does this apply throughout the UK? Or just in your council area? I spoke to a lady at education welfare and she said it is backdated. I said it’s not clear but she said it is. I’ve cancelled my holiday and lost £1500 xx

Are you able to email me this government response please?
[email protected]

did you ever find out a response to this? sorry i know this is old!

Hi, the government response is on the thread - 10/06/24.