Nursery World - Call to scrap fines for children not returning to school next term

Parents and carers in England should be given more time to choose whether to send their children back to school for the new academic year without the risk of being fined by the Government, parenting and education charity, Parentkind has said.

Parentkind's research found that many parents remain unsure whether they will send their children back to school in September

According to a recent online survey of 4,800 parents and carers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, undertaken by the charity, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) said that they would like the right to decide as a parent whether their child attends school between now and December 2020.

A total of 4,864 parents completed the online survey between 29 June and 13 July.

More than a quarter of those in England said that they do not yet know if they are planning on sending their children back at the start of the new academic year.

Moreover, 44 per cent of parents and carers in England said they would not be happy for their children to return to school without any social distancing measures in place, and another quarter are not sure.

The charity, a Parent Teacher Association membership organisation, is calling on the Government to follow the lead of the Welsh Government, which is allowing parents and carers to make the right decision for them and their families without fear of financial penalties until at least December 2020.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included