Parenting Orders are made by Magistrates under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998(as amended), following the conviction of parents/carers for failing to send their child(ren) to school regularly. 

Any parent/carer that a young child lives with, can be given an order. A parent/carer who is not living with the child but has regular contact may also be issued with a Parenting Order.

Before Magistrates decide to issue a Parenting Order they will consider information contained in a Parenting Assessment. This assessment will usually be undertaken at a meeting with your Education Welfare Officer who will write a report that will be shared with both you and the Magistrates. If the Magistrates feel that you may benefit from a Parenting Order they can impose one upon you.

The Parenting Order is not a voluntary Order and will require you to attend Parenting Classes for a period of usually 12 weeks. The Parenting Order may be given for a period of up to 12 months and could require you to have regular contact with a Supervising Officer during the length of the Order.

If you fail to comply with a Parenting Order, you will be given a written warning. Further failure to comply will result in you being taken back to court.

If convicted you could be liable for a fine of up to £1000.