Parents are legally responsible for their child attending regularly
All children of compulsory school age must receive a suitable full-time education.
Parents:
- Must make sure their child is regularly attending school or 'otherwise' receiving suitable, full-time education
- Are guilty of an offence if their child doesn't regularly attend school (if they're registered at that school)
This is set out in sections 7 and 444(1) of the Education Act (1996).
The DfE reiterates that responsibility for ensuring attendance lies with parents, which includes caregivers or anyone with parental responsibility, in its school attendance parental responsibility measures guidance (page 5).
Neither the legislation nor the DfE’s guidance explains what is meant by 'regular' attendance, and there is no minimum number of days per year that a child needs to attend. However, your local authority (LA) must, by law, set out in its code of conduct what level of absence will lead
