4.—(1) Where a parent on whom a school attendance order has been served fails to comply with the requirements of the order or, subject to paragraph 3, where a child of compulsory school age who is a registered pupil at a school fails to attend regularly at that school, the parent shall be guilty of an offence unless he proves that he is causing the child to receive, otherwise than at school, efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he may have.N.I.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scaleF2. . . .
5.—[F3(1) Before instituting proceedings against a parent for an offence under paragraph 4(1) a board shall consider whether it would be appropriate, instead of or as well as instituting the proceedings, to apply for an education supervision order with respect to the child.]N.I.
Sub‐para. (2) rep. by 1995 NI 2
(3) F3. . . Where it appears to a board that a child of compulsory school age who is for the time being in its area is a child whom a person habitually wandering from place to place takes with him, the board may, if satisfied that it is necessary to do so in order to secure that the child receives efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude and to any special educational needs he may have,[F3 apply for an education supervision order].
[F3(4) In this Schedule “education supervision order” means an education supervision order under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.]
[F46.—(1) The court before which a prosecution is brought for an offence under paragraph 4 may direct the board to apply for an education supervision order unless the board, having consulted the appropriate authority, decides that the child's welfare will be satisfactorily safeguarded even though no education supervision order is made.N.I.
(2) Where, following such a direction, the board decides not to apply for an education supervision order, the board shall inform the court of its reasons for the decision.
(3) Unless the court directs otherwise, the board shall so inform the court within eight weeks from the date on which the direction was given.
(4) Where—
(a)a board applies for an education supervision order with respect to a child who is the subject of a school attendance order; and
(b)the court decides that Article 55(2) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 prevents it from making the order,
the court may direct that the school attendance order shall cease to have effect.
(5) In sub-paragraph (1) “the appropriate authority” means the appropriate authority within the meaning of paragraph 9 of Schedule 4 to the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.]
Para. 7 rep. by 1995 NI 2
8. For the purposes of a prosecution of the parent of a child for an offence under paragraph 4, the parent of the child shall be required to give to the court such information as he possesses regarding the date and place, and place of registration, of the birth of the child and where the parent refuses or is unable to give such information, the child shall, in so far as his having been of compulsory school age at any time is material, be presumed to have been of compulsory school age at that time.N.I.
Para. 9 rep. by 1995 NI 2
10.—(1) Proceedings for an offence under this Schedule shall not be taken except by or on behalf of a board or by an officer appointed for the purpose and authorised in that behalf by the board.N.I.
(2) Any such officer appointed and authorised as aforesaid may, on behalf of a board,—
(a)perform the functions of a board under sub-paragraphF5. . . (3) of paragraph 5 or carry out any direction of a court given under paragraph 6(1);
(b)although not of counsel or a solicitor, prosecute or conduct any proceedings brought under this Schedule before a court of summary jurisdictionF5. . . .