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Parents in the UK could face prosecution or a fine if their children are consistently late for school.

The clampdown can see Fixed Penalty Notices of up to £60 ($101 au) issued per parent, per child which can double if not paid after 28 days – meaning some families could face a £240 ($400 au) fine if a child is 30 minutes late.

West Sussex County Council issues a Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) of £120 ($200) if a pupil is persistently late to school. This fine reduces to £60 ($100 au) if paid within 21 days, reports Daily Mail.

Warwickshire County Council has also warned families they will be fined if pupils are regularly more than 30 minutes late, or arrive after the register has been taken.

‘Continuous late comers may be issued with a fixed penalty notice.’

Meanwhile in Australia… we should be encouraging late arrivals in Winter!

In parts of Australia the Winter months are dangerous for parents doing the school drop off. Sadly a mum died just last week in Tasmania after dropping her nine year old daughter at school and returning home on an icy road.

One Primary School in Tasmania has since advised parents not to worry about being late for school if conditions are dangerous.

To all Parents/Carers,
With the onset of very cold weather we want to let everyone know that if you live in areas prone to icy conditions of a morning we would prefer you to bring your children in late to school than try and navigate dangerous conditions. Take care everyone and keep warm.

late arrivals

We at MoM think this is a message all schools should be sending to parents/carers if they live in an area that is prone to horrible road conditions during the Winter months.

It is not worth the risk trying to beat the 9am bell!

Stay safe mums and dads and pfffft to what they think in the UK. Maybe in the Summer months (which they are in now?) we would totally understand their warning.  Although isn’t being late for school better than never attending at all?

What do you think about the restrictions in the UK?

Share your comments below.

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  • wow that is a bit low and money grabbing! come up with a better solution!

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  • In some areas of USA including Iowa schools are sometimes closed due to dangerous weather conditions caused by ice, heavy snow etc. I personally know a lady who works with special needs pupils at a school there.

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  • Here in Queensland where I live we dont have the excuse of Icy roads or anything like that.
    When my kids were in school there was one Mum who was late daily and her excuse was that no one understood how difficult it was getting her two kids ready in the morning. Her children were not disabled in any way and nor did they have a condition that required extra attention. She was just one of these people that was always late. All the other children would be in class working away and her children were always late. She ended up changing her children to different schools each time a school would clamp down and get annoyed with her over this. He kids went to 6 different primary schools. They went though public and private.

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  • I don’t agree with a fine.

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  • I think that when kids are consistently late for school a fine is appropriate indeed.
    I lived in the Netherlands till I was 38 and had to bike through wind rain hail snow and ice to get to my work (45min in normal weather circumstances). I worked in a psychiatric clinic, so had to be on time really. When the roads were icy you just had to deal with it and take more time to get where you needed to be. Sometimes that meant 2 hours walking with the bike at your hands.
    But I can understand the position the school in Tasmania takes as well, certainly since it’s a primary school. Rather late then bringing your life and that of your kids in danger ! Your life is more important then school.

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  • Kids should be at school early or at least on time. What bad role mothers are in consistently sending them late. If nothing else has worked, then fine them.

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  • Well, if the kids are consistently late, I think that something should be done. Not sure the fine it the best solution though.

    How terrible about that mum in Tasmania. :-(

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  • An interesting article,l cannot see it happening here!

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  • I’m not totally opposed – it disrupts the entire class – but there needs to be flexibility for individual ircumstances or unusual situations.

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  • How do they enforce fines? Seriously… do you get debt collecters or the sherriff chasing it up? Does it affect your credit rating? Perhaps it would be more helpful to look into WHY students are consistently late and address that rather than just throw threats snd fines around?

    Reply

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