We’re launching our report on school attendance policies in response to the serious hardships women have brought to our attention, due to prosecutions and fines related to their children’s school non-attendance.
It’s increasingly clear that punitive approaches to children’s school absences are ineffective and disproportionately impact the most disadvantaged families, pushing them into further deprivation.
Nottinghamshire has been identified as an outlier in the East Midlands. It’s worse than other areas for convictions under the Education Act, as we’ve identified through our local partnership collaboration.
We’ve created a report that draws on insights from 54 local women who participated in listening sessions, 27 women supported through our casework, and a review of existing research.
It highlights the unique experiences of women supporting their children’s education, showcases positive school practices they’ve found helpful, and exposes the harmful effects of prosecutions and fines.
Based on what we have heard from women and experts, we’re advocating for a shift away from punitive measures to a system rooted in support and empathy, enabling better outcomes for women, children, and their families.