School child absence fines

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Derbyshire County Council should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Derbyshire County Council,

Please can you confirm in the prior 24 months, broken down by the calendar month. If the granualarity is too low due to data protection the reporting period may be increased to quartley and so forth until a minimum of 5 is the lowest denominator.

How many parents have been fined for child absences of:

1 day
2 days
3 days
4 days
5 days

Broken down by school in Buxton inclusive of harbour hill, Fairfield and Burbage and any surrounding schools within 1/2 mile of the town center. Further parents is a singular term to ensure no duplication for a single child’s absence as I am aware that two parent families are discriminated against with double fines, so please count as one for the purpose of this FOI.

Also a copy of such policy to determine consistency across the region.

Yours faithfully,
Bob Thompson

Access 2 Info (Commissioning Communities and Policy), Derbyshire County Council

Dear Mr Thompson

I write to acknowledge receipt of your request for information received on the 11 February 2018.

We will be processing your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In accordance with the legislation, the deadline for responding is 20 working days from the receipt of the request, this being 09 March 2018. However, we shall endeavour to deal with your request promptly, and if possible before this date.

Yours Sincerely,

Justin Hird
Legal Assistant
For John McElvaney
Director of Legal Services
Derbyshire County Council
County Hall
Matlock
DE4 3AG

Telephone: 01629 539336

PUBLIC – This email includes information which is not personal.

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This email or email thread section has been clasified PUBLIC - This email includes information which is not personal.

CS DP and FOI (Childrens Services), Derbyshire County Council

1 Attachment

 

Dear Mr Thompson

 

Thank you for your information request dated 11^th February 2018.  I can
confirm that we do hold the requested information. The request has been
considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  The response to
your request is as follows:

 

Please note that numbers of less than 5 (<5) are exempt under S40(2) of
the Freedom of Information Act and are not included so as not to make
individuals identifiable.

 

Please can you confirm in the prior 24 months, broken down by the calendar
month. If the granualarity is too low due to data protection the reporting
period may be increased to quartley and so forth until a minimum of 5 is
the lowest denominator.

 

Penalty
Notice
Issue
Academic Pupil
Year Count Month
2016-2017 <5 September
2016-2017 <5 December
2016-2017 <5 January
2016-2017 <5 February
2016-2017 <5 March
2016-2017 <5 May
2016-2017 <5 June
2016-2017 <5 July
2017-2018 7 September
2017-2018 <5 October
2017-2018 <5 December
2017-2018 11 January

 

How many parents have been fined for child absences of:

 

1 day = 0

2 days = 1

3 days = 1

4 days = 2

5 days = 7

 

Broken down by school in Buxton inclusive of harbour hill, Fairfield and
Burbage and any surrounding schools within 1/2 mile of the town center. 
Further parents is a singular term to ensure no duplication for a single
child’s absence as I am aware that two parent families are discriminated
against with double fines, so please count as one for the purpose of this
FOI.

 

Due to the low numbers we do not identify the individual schools or the
dates that they were issued.

 

Also a copy of such policy to determine consistency across the region.

 

Each individual school should have an attendance policy which covers the
process for the approval of term time absence including holiday requests.
The decision to authorise absence during term time can only be made by a
head teacher and if unauthorised it can be sent to the LA for the issue of
a penalty notice. This process is governed by the attached “Code of
Conduct” – This is currently under review due to departmental changes.

 

 

I hope this now deals with your request for information. However should
you wish the outcome to be reviewed, please follow the procedure as set
out below;

 

Stage 1:

In the first instance, please send in your comments, and wherever
possible, a copy of your request and the covering letter enclosing the
information or refusing your request to:

 

Access to Information Solicitor

Legal Services

Derbyshire County Council

County Hall

Matlock

DE4 3AG

Email: [1][Derbyshire County Council request email]

 

Please ensure that correspondence is marked as “Request for a review of my
Freedom of Information Act / Environmental Information Regulations
request”, and bears any case references you have been given.   

 

Stage 2:

After completing the above procedure, if you wish to challenge the
decision further, then you have a right to contact the Information
Commissioner’s Office as follows: 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Tel. 0303 123 1113/ Fax: 01625 524510

 

ICO Weblink: [2]http://www.ico.org.uk/complaints.aspx

 

 

Kind regards

 

Julie Yates

 

Julie Yates | Management Information Officer | SAR / FOI Team |
Information & ICT | Children’s Services | Derbyshire County Council |
County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3AG | Tel: 01629 538853 / 531226

 Visit us at [3]www.derbyshire.gov.uk | Follow us on [4]Twitter | Find us
on [5]Facebook

 

 

 

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