**Calls for Greater Transparency After Family Feared Fine Over Nursery Absence**
Councillors in Torfaen, south Wales, are pressing for improved guidance on school attendance penalties after a parent feared being fined for not sending their four-year-old child to nursery. The incident has prompted wider debate over how current absence rules are applied and interpreted, highlighting concerns among both families and local leaders.
The issue came to light after Councillor Rose Seabourne, representing Cwmbran’s Fairwater ward, was approached by a worried parent. The parent, whose son attends nursery, was alarmed after being told he could not have a day off, sparking fears he might be hit with a fixed penalty notice. For context, attendance at nursery in Wales remains non-compulsory until a child is five, raising questions about whether such penalties should ever apply to under-fives.
“My constituent was understandably anxious about the possibility of a fine,” Cllr Seabourne explained. “Her son is only four and technically not required to be in school yet. Nonetheless, the school would not authorise a day off for him.”
Others in the council chamber backed her call for clarification. Councillor Nicholas Simons, who represents the wards of Pontnewynydd and Snatchwood, echoed those sentiments, highlighting that uncertainty over the rules is fuelling confusion among both families and schools.
At a recent scrutiny committee meeting of Torfaen County Borough Council, education officers reiterated that fines linked to unauthorised absences can only be issued in respect of children aged five to sixteen. They confirmed that, in this case, the parent of the nursery-aged child had not actually received a penalty notice but had experienced distress after being refused permission for her child to miss a day.
Statistical evidence provided to the committee painted a picture of increasing use of penalties. During the 2024/2025 financial year, Torfaen Council processed 261 requests from schools to issue fines for unauthorised school absences—a rise of 11% on the previous year. Of these requests, the vast majority were upheld, although 11 fines were later withdrawn upon review, often when further context or involvement from other agencies emerged.
The standard fine is set at £120, though this figure is reduced to £60 if paid within a 60-day window. Most fines are issued to deter absences rather than punish, with council representatives describing them as a ‘last resort’ for persistent unauthorised holidays or unexplained non-attendance.
Councillor Janet Jones, an independent councillor for Blaenavon, questioned in a prior meeting whether some families might simply weigh up the cost of the fine against the potential savings from term-time holidays. She suggested that the deterrent effect may not always work as intended, particularly as the current cost-of-living crisis bites deeper into household budgets.
Education welfare officer Hannah Catherine Moore clarified that fines are not the only mechanism used, describing them as “just one tool” available for tackling attendance issues. Importantly, she noted, schools must develop and submit attendance action plans in cases where absence becomes a persistent problem.
The scrutiny committee has now recommended that clearer guidance be circulated to both schools and parents, alongside better communication about the legal framework surrounding attendance. The committee believes this would help minimise distress and confusion, and ultimately ensure families and schools are on the same page.
As conversations around school attendance continue to develop, many in Torfaen—and beyond—will be watching closely to see whether these calls for greater transparency result in tangible changes. Until then, parents and schools alike are urged to check the latest local authority rules and seek advice should uncertainties over absence arise.
This incident shines a spotlight on the delicate balance between encouraging consistent attendance and recognising the need for flexibility, especially for the youngest members of the school community. It also reflects a wider debate echoing throughout Wales, as local authorities search for solutions that are both fair and effective.