Part 3

Parental responsibilities

Truancy and exclusion from school

Parenting orders in cases of exclusion from school
20
1
This section applies where—
a
a pupil has been excluded on disciplinary grounds from a relevant school for a fixed period or permanently, and
b
such conditions as may be prescribed in regulations made by the appropriate person are satisfied.
2
A local education authority may apply to a magistrates' court for a parenting order in respect of a parent of the pupil.
3
If such an application is made, the court may make a parenting order in respect of a parent of the pupil if it is satisfied that making the order would be desirable in the interests of improving the behaviour of the pupil.
4
A parenting order is an order which requires the parent—
a
to comply, for a period not exceeding twelve months, with such requirements as are specified in the order, and
b
subject to subsection (5), to attend, for a concurrent period not exceeding three months, such counselling or guidance programme as may be specified in directions given by the responsible officer.
5
A parenting order under this section may, but need not, include a requirement mentioned in subsection (4)(b) in any case where a parenting order under this section or any other enactment has been made in respect of the parent on a previous occasion.
6
A counselling or guidance programme which a parent is required to attend by virtue of subsection (4)(b) may be or include a residential course but only if the court is satisfied that the following two conditions are fulfilled.
7
The first condition is that the attendance of the parent at a residential course is likely to be more effective than his attendance at a non-residential course in improving the behaviour of the pupil.
8
The second condition is that any interference with family life which is likely to result from the attendance of the parent at a residential course is proportionate in all the circumstances.