My child’s school threatened me with fines for being just minutes late – it’s not my fault there was traffic & roadworks
A MUM has slammed her daughter's school for threatening her with a fine after she dropped her off just minutes late.
The mother-of-three, only known as @, took to TikTok where she ranted about the letter she had received from her six-year-old's head teacher.
According to the mum, her daughter has arrived late after the school gates have closed on several occasions - but she insisted that it's only been ''literally by minutes''.
The late arrival means that the child has had ''to go through the office''.
As stated by the formal letter the mum received, the head teacher noted that the school gates are open for 15 minutes - from 8.40am until 8.45am - and ''children are expected to be in school for 8.45am the latest''.
The letter, she showed in , also pointed out that if a child arrives anywhere from 8.45am to 9.15am, ''they will be classed as late''.
read more on parenting
Those getting to school after 9.15am ''will be classed as arriving after the registers have closed'' - ''which is an unauthorised absence, registered as a code 'U'''.
In school attendance records, a "U" code typically signifies an "unauthorised absence", meaning a student was not present in class without a valid, approved reason, often used when a student arrives after the register has closed or is absent without explanation.
U codes count as an absence, so it will mean students will have less than 100% attendance. For example, if the student has 26 present marks and 26 U marks, they will have 50% attendance.
The letter warned that just eight instances of being marked with ''U'' code ''will result in a penalty notice being requested''.
Most read in Fabulous
The head teacher also added that ''it is the duty of parents to ensure that children attend school regularly and punctually'', as ''this encourages habits of good timekeeping and lessens any possible classroom disruption''.
Fuming about receiving the formal letter, the mum, 28, was raging in the caption: ''Letter received due to a handful of times my daughter has arrived late after the gates have closed, literally by minutes.
''This means she has to go through the office,'' she said, before explaining why her daughter had shown up late on several occasions.
''This is simply because we have been stuck in traffic, unexpected road works and flooding in our area.''
The 28-year-old mum-of-three, whose clip has since backfired, explained that she agreed with a fine - however, reckoned there shouldn't be a financial penalisation ''for being a few minutes late''.
The video, posted just a day ago, has already racked up close to a staggering 30k views, with hundreds of social media users sharing their thoughts.
One person said: ''If it is a persistent issue yes I think a fine is fair, if I showed up to work ten minutes late repeatedly I'd have my pay deducted and eventually be sacked.''
What school fines can parents receive?
THE main issue that can lead to parents receiving a fine is missing school.
Currently, it's the decision of the local council whether or not to issue a parent a fine for their child missing school.
However, from August this year, the fine for absences will up to the school to consider - when a child has missed 10 or more sessions for unauthorised reasons.
And the fine will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days - this is issued to EACH parent.
It's the first time the fine has been increased since 2012, and is in line with inflation.
If a parent receives a second fine for the same child within three years, this will automatically be charged at the higher rate of £160.
Fines will be capped at two fines within a three-year period.
After this limit has been reached, prosecution or a parenting order may be considered.
According to the official there are only five reasons your child should be absent from school if the school is open.
These are as follows:
- Your child is too ill to attend that day
- You have asked in advance and been given permission by the school for your child to be absent on that day due to exceptional circumstances
- Your child cannot attend school on that day because it is a day you are taking part in religious observance
- Your local authority is responsible for arranging your child’s transport to school and it is not available on that day or has not been provided yet
- You are a gypsy/traveller family with no fixed abode, and you are required to travel for work that day meaning your child cannot attend their usual school
Another agreed, writing: ''I don’t agree with the holiday fines due to the extortionate prices holiday companies charge.
''But continual lateness can be avoided by leaving earlier if needed,disruptive to a class someone being late.''
''You have until 9.15 to get there on time until it’s classed as unauthorised absence. I think that’s fair,'' chimed in someone else.
''Yes, get yourself there on time,'' another told the mother who claimed she hadn't ''said one bad thing about them doing a fine'' despite ranting in the video.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
However, there were also plenty of those who were on her side, with one viewer writing parents ''can't always guarantee this if there are accidents, roadworks''.
Another supportive web user said: ''how about life gets in the way sometimes FFS, we ain't robots.''