Fines for Peterborough pupils not returning to school a ‘last resort’

Guidance issued by the Government on Monday stated that attendance back in school is now mandatory across all phases, with local authorities allowed to issue fixed penalty notices.

Asked what approach will be taken locally, Jonathan Lewis, service director for education in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, told the Peterborough Telegraph: “The guidance is very strong but my advice remains the same - parents need to talk to the school about their concerns, their issues and have that conversation.

“The process of fining - which is a local authority responsibility - is the last resort. We want to work with parents to get children back.

“One of the reasons education is re-opening is to make sure children’s life chances aren’t affected any further so I would encourage parents to talk to their school and resolve any issues they have around return.

“(Fining) is the last resort but it comes at the end of a very long process. We would have expected dialogue, meetings, expectations being set, plans considered about partial return.

“It is the very last resort and we’ll have to think very carefully about how we implement that. There are children out there who we think the risks are high for them being at home and we want them in school. So in certain circumstances we might move more quickly to that approach, but that’s a balance.

“I understand the anxiety - I have two children going back to school and I’ve got to go through that as well, so it’s important parents engage with their schools, look at the information and read the Government’s guide to return. It’s quite a good document.”

The Government guidance insists that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) should also make a full return to the classroom.

Mr Lewis said: “We have testing in that sector and we’ve managed to get children-facing staff vaccinated so there’s an extra layer of reassurance there, so we’ve gone above and beyond to make sure it’s safe for those children. They need to return to school as much as any child.

“The guidance is very clear, they come back as part of the main group and that’s my expectation.

“Special schools have been brilliant. We meet with them every week, there are standard processes, and I’m very confident it’s a safe environment.”