We work with children, their families and other agencies to help make sure that all children receive an education.
School attendance - A guide for young people
Attendance guidance for schools
Education is compulsory from 8 March 2021 and the Code of Conduct is current.
Publications
- School Attendance Guidance for Parents
- Starting Secondary School: Tips for Parents
- Effectively Managing Attendance and Punctuality and Developing a School Attendance Policy August 2024
- Penalty Notice Code of Conduct - for offences committed before 19 August 2024
- Penalty Notice Code of Conduct - for offences committed on or after 19 August 2024
Penalty notice and enforcement data
| Academic Year | Penalty Notice fines issued for unauthorised absence | Penalty Notice fines issued for unauthorised leave of absence | Cases prepared for Court under s4441 or s4441A Education Act 1996 | Total received by Merton from Penalty Notice fines | Total fines imposed by the Courts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012/2013 | 145 combined, not recorded separately | 35 | £3450* | £1660** | |
| 2013/2014 | 38 | 96 | 36 | £5,160 | £9,335 |
| 2014/2015 | 122 | 73 | 72 | £5,820 | £7,330 |
| 2015/2016 | 125 | 135 | 50 | £9,900 | £4,757 |
| 2016/2017 | 112 | 74 | 73 | £6,960 | £9,596 |
| 2017/2018 | 117 | 211 | 102 | £16,440 | £6,890 |
| 2018/2019 | 121 | 222 | 56 | £13,380 | £12,326 |
| 2019/2020 | 54 | 97 | 10 | £5880 | £2030 |
| 2020/2021 | 16 | 16 | 8 | £360 | £1,980 |
| 2021/2022 | 142 | 90 | 41 | £4,680 | £11,080 |
| 2022/2023 | 58 | 158 | 50 | £9360 | £6160 |
| 2023/2024 | 88 | 212 | 34 | £13200 | £6286 |
* This figure is set by the Government. The following increases were implemented in 2013. £50 paid within 28 days to £60 paid within 21 days. £100 paid within 42 days to £120 paid within 28 days.
Penalty notice fines for unauthorised leave of absence are issued for 5 day absences or more in any rolling four month period.
**Fines imposed by the Courts are payable directly to His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service not to Merton.
Children not collected from school
This document sets out procedures to be followed should any pupil not be collected from a school, setting or after school childcare provision at the usual times.
This policy has been agreed between Merton Council, Merton Local Safeguarding Children Board and the Metropolitan Police.
Children not collected from school: joint policy agreement
Contact us
Education Welfare Service
10th Floor
Merton Civic Centre
London Road
Morden
SM4 5DX
Telephone: 020 8545 4021
Email: education.welfare@merton.gov.uk