Term Time absence and Child Neglect

[HappyStep1]

I've been told by a friend that from now on if their child is absent and considered unauthorised as for a holiday in term time, the child's record will be marked with Child Neglect! Has anyone else heard of this?

Registration codes are set centrally and there is no registration code for that. They may record it as such on a different system like CPOMS for safeguarding if the child has missed so much school that it is impacting their education.

This is the new holidays in term time rules, basically if you take your child out unauthorised 3 times in 3 years then yes, you will be prosecuted and have child neglect in your record and DBS/CRB.

Yes there has been a statement from government that persistent school absenteeism can in some cases be taken as child neglect. Not always. But it is among a child's human rights to receive an education and it is a parent's responsibility to ensure their child is suitably educated. A parent who is failing to engage at all with the importance of school attendance is being neglectful. If a child has mental health issues or neurodiversity issues that cause regular school refusal a parent wouldn't be being neglectful if they are taking all reasonable steps to maximise school attendance. A parent who tells their child they don't have to go to school if they don't want to and doesn't do anything to get them into school is definitely being neglectful. Individual circumstances will vary.

@WitchyBits @OpusGiemuJavlo thank you for the additional information.

It did feel a little draconian but if 3 times in 3 years I can see the point. Realistically, a holiday is not a human right and is not even possible for many.