After yesterday announcing that school will be compulsory for all pupils from the start of the new academic year (September 2020), the government have now announced that further legal measures may be taken against parents who decide to keep their children from school from September 2020.
Preliminary fines for nonattendance may start at £60, raising to £120 if a payment is not make in 21 days. A theoretical maximum fine of £2,500 may be issued by the government if parents are prosecuted.
Gavin Williamson, Education Secretary, said:
“Unless there is a good reason for the absence then we will be looking at the fact that we would be imposing fines on families if they are not sending their children back”
This decision, however, has lead to the raise of much concern throughout the community, with various parents and teaching unions disagreeing with these strict measures.
Honestly, I find the fact that parents are being threatened with fines if they don’t send their kids back to school in September abhorrent. This government has led a disastrous response to the pandemic, hundreds are still dying every week. I sure as hell don’t feel safe.
— Emma Tofi (still at home🏡) (@EmmaTofi) June 29, 2020
Many action groups are calling for more clarity over what social distancing will look like. Do you think it’s right that parents should be fined for not sending their children back to school in September?
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