FINES for unauthorised school absences will be reintroduced in west Cheshire following a temporary suspension, it has been confirmed.

Cheshire West and Chester Council suspended Fixed Penalty Notices for the summer term following the outcome of the Isle of Wight v Platt court case.

In April of this year, the Supreme Court ruled against Jon Platt, who had won earlier legal battles against a £120 fine in a case brought by the Isle of Wight council.

The Guardian can reveal that CWAC have been sending parents and carers in the borough notices that it will lift the suspension from September.

The letter, which was sent from Debbie Ward, CWAC Fixed Penalty Notice Officer, said: “This letter is to remind parents/carers that from September 2017, unless there are any exceptional circumstances, the Local Authority will be resuming the issuing of FPN’s for any unauthorised absence of five consecutive school days (10 sessions) or more during term time.

“Should an unauthorised absence take place the school will inform the Local Authority and a Fixed Penalty Notice will then be issued in accordance with section 444 of the Education Act 1996.

“The law stipulates that the current penalties payable by parents/carers are £60 when the penalty is paid within 21 days, increasing to £120 when the penalty is paid within the next seven days (giving a total of 28 days to pay). This penalty is per parent/carer per child for the duration of the absence.

“If the Fixed Penalty is not paid you could be prosecuted in the Magistrates’ Court.”