School Attendance Orders (SAO)

A School Attendance Order (SAO) is a legal document issued by a local authority when a child of compulsory school age is not receiving suitable education and is not registered at a school.

It requires the parent to register the child at a named school.

SAOs are typically used when a local authority believes a child is not being properly educated, including in cases where elective home education is deemed unsuitable.

If a parent fails to comply with an SAO, they may be prosecuted and face a fine or other legal consequences.

Parents have the right to present evidence of suitable education before an SAO is issued or enforced.

What is an SAO?

A School Attendance Order is a legal notice issued by a local authority when it believes a child of compulsory school age is not receiving a suitable education. It requires the parent to register the child at a specific school named in the order. SAOs are used to ensure that every child receives an appropriate full-time education, either at school or otherwise (such as through elective home education).

When an SAO is used

An SAO is typically used when:

a child is not registered at any school
the local authority believes the education being provided at home is not suitable
the parent has failed to provide evidence of suitable education after being asked to do so

Before issuing an SAO, the local authority will usually make informal attempts to resolve the issue, including offering support and requesting information about the child's education.

How an SAO works

the local authority serves a notice requiring the parent to register the child at a school or provide evidence of suitable education
if the parent does not respond satisfactorily within 15 days, the authority may issue a School Attendance Order naming a specific school
the parent must then register the child at that school and ensure regular attendance

Parents can object to the named school or appeal the order, but they must do so through the proper legal channels.

If you don't comply

Failure to comply with an SAO is a criminal offence. If a parent does not register the child at the named school or fails to ensure attendance, they may be prosecuted. This can result in:

a fine of up to £1,000
a criminal record
further legal action, including Education Supervision Orders or Parenting Orders

References

See our school admissions and places pages.

See the governments 'Advice for parents and guardians on school admission appeals' on GOV.UK.