School absence warning

Parents who take their children out of school without permission face tougher penalties from Rochdale Council.

Government guidelines now encourage authorities to use fines even for a first offence if the parent was to blame over a lengthy absence from school.

The council has revised its code for dealing with absence and truancy, and shortened the threshold for warning letters to go out, from after a total of eight days’ absence, to five days off school.

The letters are sent out when pupils are playing truant, persistently late, for excessive holidays in term-time and delayed returns from holiday.

But if there is a deliberate holiday in term-time without school permission lasting five days or more condoned by parents, there could be an immediate penalty fine.

All Rochdale schools will have to send advisory letters to parents, warning them of the new approach and the penalty notices.

They will go out at least once a year.