We are Maddie and Susan, we are two mums who both have autistic children. We didn't always know that our children were autistic and they both had severe attendance difficulties with school while we tried to get them the support they needed. Getting any help was really difficult and during the time it took we were vulnerable to fines. We started this petition against the Government's new Schools Bill - and won - but still parents across the country are being threatened with prison sentences when our children can't attend school. The government is prioritising attendance over the needs of children, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We need no more school fines now. 

When my son started to struggle with going to school it was a symptom of an underlying cause - autism. He tried so hard to go, but just couldn't. We didn't know it at the time but he has sensory differences that mean a classroom environment can be overwhelming. We soon realised that forcing him into school was actually increasing his distress. Worrying about being fined when my son's difficulties would have been made worse going to school, as it didn’t cater to his needs, caused us more anxiety at a really tough time (Susan). 

My son Harleigh shouldn’t miss out on being educated because he's autistic and can't cope in mainstream school. He finally has an education otherwise at school (EOTAS) that meets his needs, he is starting to recover from his autistic breakdown and thrive again. Our children have done nothing wrong by having a disability or difference which means they need more support or an alternative to mainstream school (Maddie). 

We wanted our kids in school, but they couldn’t be, which caused us stress and pain every single day. The threat of prosecution is terrifying and does nothing to provide our kids with the support they need to get an education. 

Maddie and I ask - why are parents being punished for having kids who struggle with mainstream school?

Support isn't being fined, and imprisoning us wouldn't have helped our children obtain an education, but it would have torn our families apart. We need more local authority funding for alternatives to mainstream education, so that our kids can be in schools that are right for them. 

Please join our campaign for no school fines - we can protect children and families from harm and put the focus back where it should be in law -providing all children with an Education.