School Attendance DfE guidance stresses the importance of good attendance for all children to support their attainment, wellbeing and wider life chances. When a child’s attendance falls to 90% this is a cause for concern for school and the local authority– 10% absence equates to a child being absent for 1 day or more a fortnight across a full school year. The National Framework for Penalty Notices, which was introduced this year, aims to improve consistency in the use of penalty notices across England. This framework includes a single consistent national threshold for when a penalty notice must be considered for 10 sessions (usually equivalent to 5 school days) for any unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period. The 10 week period may span different terms or school years. The framework also includes an increase to the rate of the penalty from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days and a national limit of 2 penalty notices that can be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3 year period.