Sunday 17 May 2015

Fining Parents for being late


I recently saw an article that stated that there are plans for schools to start fining parents if their child arrives late.

I have to admit that initially I took one look at the article and dismissed it immediately; this was until I was looking down my Facebook feed and noticed that two of my friends had put it as their status’ and subsequently were in the middle of a heated debate to whether or not this should be allowed.
Now the old Martyn would have quite happily jumped in and said his bit but instead I sat and followed the discussions unfold. From this though I decided to reread the article:

The basis for it is to see that attendance is
increased and to prevent children from repeatedly missing the start of subjects or even mornings within schools.
The fine would be introduced after 10 days of late arrivals per term and could potentially lead up to a £60 fine.

Now I am aware that some schools have been trailing this concept since 2003 and this has been a low lying issue for a while, especially since 2014 when Essex council reinforced this under the Department of Education guidelines.
What now seems apparent is that this debate has opened up again since it is being used by thousands of schools.

It is reported that Councils are warning parents about these financial penalties and subsequently if their children fail to arrive in time for registration. There is also discussion that the fines work in the same way as parking tickets which will allow them to be doubled if not paid within 21 days.
The above Facebook discussions happened 4 days ago and to be honest it has taken me this entire time to truly think it over and at the end of it I still don’t know where I stand.

When I was teaching there were persistent late arrivals that would miss a fraction on the lesson; the morning lessons were usually Numeracy and Literacy so I could see that there was a significant need for that pupil to be there, especially when the first 15 minutes was based on a warm up and introduction to the topic. I witnessed some pupils take longer in gaining their understanding because they were crucially missing an important section of the lesson.
However, I also saw many parents drop their children off the moment the school gates had opened and this was a continued consistency for them.

As a parent, and when I took William to school, I always made extra effort to leave on time and within my planning to leave early in case we hit a sudden surge of traffic; in the whole year William was always punctual.
So from these two points I can see why fining parents for lateness seems like a good idea; it could potentially motivate and encourage the importance time management.

One thing stands clear within this idea: What about absences?
Now I do not and will not label or stereotype any parents with or without knowing their personal situations. It’s not only unfair but I hate the idea that stereotypes lead to judgements of people so I won’t do it.

This being said I have met families who always seemed to drop pupils off late and some of these families also seemed to have a higher number of absences.

So this has been my biggest counter argument:
Would the introduction of fining parents of consistent late arrivals make them consider just having an absence instead?

Would parents fear getting a fine for lateness and call their child in sick instead because they knew they had reached their given amount and choose that their child miss at least a whole day of school rather than a few minutes?
I don’t know. I am still completely unsure on this.

What do you guys think?

24 comments:

Ashley Beolens said...

It always just seems as another way to take money from people to me, there must be a better way to get serial offenders to school, like finding out why they are late.

I understand that there are people who are lazy and don't make an effort to get their child to school on time but there are others of us who rely on public transport to get kids to school.

Sadly buses don't turn up or are late, unless these authorities also allow those fines to be passed on by the parents to the companies that run public transport (without penalty to the parent), it is unfair to penalise parents whose child is late thanks to these companies.

Martyn Kitney said...

I think that's an interesting point! Where would an acceptable line be drawn? I think lateness is a wooly area to judge.
I accept something needs to change for the lazier parents but they are the ones I'm concerned about absences.

Unknown said...

I think it's a tricky one. As Ashley says there could be issues with transport but hopefully that would be a one off so the 10 days wouldn't be an issue. I guess nurseries fine for late pick ups but probably more for staff member staying late. I suppose like you I would endeavour to get my girl to school on time everyday and why should there be children late everyday because of their parents/themselves? They are missing out on crucial work. I'm not sure what incentive could be given? Unless a reward scheme/prize at the end of year. A free breakfast. All cost though. I can see it continuing though no matter how cross people get. xxx

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks Sarah! It's such a difficult thing to consider. There's definitely a lot to consider. I'd like to think that there could be a positive reinforcement with it but I know a lot of schools already do that. I can see that there possibly needs to be a harsher restrictions but how to mediate it like Ashley says would need so serious consideration.

Anonymous said...

Swings and roundabouts. I think doing something to try to discourage persistent lateness is worthwhile. However, this smacks a bit of treating the symptoms rather than the cause. I'd rather it was made mandatory in the first instance that parents meet with teachers to understand the causes of persistent lateness (and absences) and to agree an action plan to resolve it. Only if it then continues should financial penalties be considered.

Mama, My Kid Doesn't Poop Rainbows said...

The lateness thing I agree with. I'm a teacher too and the kids who are always late miss important stuff. I think fines for persistent lateness are a good idea. No so sure with the absences. Aren't there already measures in place to prevent persistent absences? Some kids are just more sickly than others. The last thing I'd want is kids being sent to school sick to spread their germs around.

#bigfatlinky

All about a Mummy said...

My parents would have been seriously broke if this had been the case 20+ years ago. I was late everyday through junior school. Or at least that's how I remember it! I am all for it if there is repeat behaviour and no special circumstances. #bigfatlinky

R.C. said...

Wow, don't have to worry about this for a while, but you make a good point about parents just calling their kid in sick instead. I bet that will be the case for many. Only time will tell!
#bigfatlinky

Something Crunchy Mummy said...

You have a great point there! I too make sure we leave with enough time to get to pre school and factor in any traffic or things that could potential make us late. I am always late for personal things (not sure why!) but rarely for preschool and education related things. The one or two times a year is going to happen but if there is 10 times when the fine will start I totally agree with this as it would be a reaccuring offence (not sure that's the right term to use). #bigfatlinky

Adelaide said...

I'm actually for the fine, I think it should help parents be more organized and it should help their families work together to make sure they don't get fined.
The way I see it, is that if you are always late, hate the rules that may come into place or are already in place then homeschool, if not, just deal with it, your children are at school to learn, making them late because say you're running late is cutting into their education.
Saying all that, I'm glad it wasn't around when I was younger, my mum would be in some serious debt as I was never in school on time when I started going by myself haha!

Cuddle Fairy said...

Wow, I've never heard of this! It's an interesting idea. I think it's a good concept to try and stop late arrivals. But at the same time, there are so many reasons why a child can be late and a lot of them are outside of the parents control. I suppose if it's 10 times in a short amount of time, then that's a consistent issue. Great post, very thought provoking! #BigFatLinky

Unknown said...

I can totally see the reasoning behind it but it's such a hard one. Is a penalty really going to deter those parents that just don't really care? I know parents like this, I grew up with children with parents like this so I can speak from experience. There were parents that encourage their kids to go shop lifting rather than go to school, would a fine make a difference? No, they make more money selling stolen goods! The root cause needs to be treated otherwise it just goes from generation to generation, a fine is just the end result. #BigFatLinky

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Unknown said...

I'm in agreement with Tim, only after extensive consultation with individual families to try and solve the problem, should fines even be considered.

Angela Milnes said...

It's a little over the top i think. After all they don't even know why parents may be late! Our daughter was late 2x last term as my hubby was under pressure and i was in hospital. So would it be fair to fine him for this? I don't think so.


Thanks for the post- Food for thought!

Angela recently posted "10 names I call my husband http://wp.me/p5XRN6-1n2"

John Milnes said...

I see this as just another way of getting cash out of hard strapped parents. There are times that being late in taking your child to school is just a part of normal like. It is in our household. My wife is sick and getting my child ready for school is nightmare at times.

If my wife has to go in to hospital, which can be a regular thing. Our daughter then acts up big time. Getting her ready is another day in hell. Even with the best intensions of getting her to school on time, is not possible. I bet this just another hot headed idea from a stupid politician.

Anonymous said...

The district I work in here in the US actually fines parents for unexcused absences. I believe it is a fair practice. at the risk of stereotyping but also going off research, most parents consider themselves above a child's edication. I personally know a family that would simply keep their child home because 8am was "too early" for them (the parents) to wake up every day. The school fined them and said the child would be held back a grade if he misses another day. A child's education shouldn't be compromised due to a lazy parent. I understand there are simply times you are late and I feel a 3 day or 10 day warning is sufficient for most responsible adults.

jeremy@thirstydaddy said...

I'm not in favor of "legislating" parenting. If somebody is consistently late and a disruption to the class, the parents should be talked to about the detrimental effect to the other kids, but fining them seems a reach to me. I think the age of the kids would make a difference in how I felt also.

Unknown said...

My first thought while I was reading was the point you made towards the end - would people be inclined to call the child in sick if they were going to be late? I expect that would happen, though I don't know if it would happen often.

I am not too sure either. My inclination is that this could be one of those things like ASBOs &, for that matter, truancy. The difficulty, in my view, with the measures introduced in respect of those issues is that they fail to address the motivators for the behaviours. They have thus been largely ineffective, because they have missed that the reasons people are doing these things override for them the consequences.

The assumption behind all penalties like this is that people would not do these things if the consequences were more serious. Often that is not true. The punishments, or lack there of, are not part of the decision making process. To be honest, would we not imagine that most people who would be put off by someone trying to charge them a £60 fine would also be put off just by the lateness being frowned up on, & probably already get their kids to school on time?

I would think that chronic lateness is probably more an indicator of school not being a priority, or possibly serious problems with managing a child's behaviour in order to get them to school, or there being so many pressures at home that they literally cannot get on top of time management. In any of those situations, it is highly likely the threat of a fine is not the biggest problem being faced. Furthermore, it does not in any way resolve the issues causing the lateness.

Mummy Fever said...

It's a really tricky one. I hate being late with a passion but we live a 15 minute drive from school and sometimes we have been stuck and been late. In those occasions it is beyond my control. I do see some families strolling along in no rush as I am on my way back from school and they must be 15 mins late most days. #bigfatlinky

Unknown said...

I wouldn't have a problem with this. 10 tardies a term is ridiculous. Students need to get to school at the appropriate time and the schools don't have the time or resources to send someone around to every house who has a late student to find out why they can't get to school on time. Monetary fines have long proven to be a very effective method to motivate compliance. (some parents won't care, just as some people don't pay traffic tickets)

More often than not the tardiness is the parent's fault. And even if it's not really the parent's fault it is ultimately the parent's responsibility to see that their child gets to school on time.

And remember we are talking about after the 10th tardy per term. THE 10TH! You are right Martyn that it will likely lead to some extra absences but maybe the policy needs to be adjusted to somehow prevent this. (all absences after 10 tardies must have official reason or the fine still applies)

I think the reality is this only applies to a handful of people and they need to stop with the excuses and just get their children to school on time.

Ali said...

I actually think this is a god thing, from working in a school I've seen how disruptive it is for the children when a child arrives late and how bad the child themselves feel. They arrive unprepared for the learning environment, having probably had a very stressful journey to school and it takes them a while to settle and adjust to being in the classroom. I use to feel so sorry of them. It's like us walking into a meeting late and feeling uncomfortable. I hope it encourages parents to get their children on school on time but sadly, like you say, they'll probably just take the day off but then they have the threat of coming under the education welfare officer's radar so maybe not. #bigfatlinky @mum in a nutshell

Nigel said...

It's incredibly difficult one fines for parents being late seems a little extreme to me great post very interesting read

Random Musings said...

I think this will definitely lead to more children missing a full day. If money is tight £60 is a lot of money - you could feed a child for a week on that! I can understand that something needs to be done but I think this will add to the problem. Thank you for hosting the #bigfatlinky
Debbie
www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com

Jenni said...

This is a really interesting debate, not something I had really read a lot about as Boo is only 17 months so the school run is a thing is the far distance future.
I totally understand both of your views though, it is important for children to be there for the whole school day and those minutes of lateness add up - but like you say - might that mean that children as missing whole days so that the parents don't get late fines.
I am not sure what the best course of action is?