Is it officially against the law....

[Sonak]

for a child not to go or refuse to go to school?

If an individual is aware or has a suspicion of a child not going to school, do they by law have to report it?

[Oneeyedvic]

No, it is not against the law, you are entitled to home school your child.

[Tom Braider]

Yes, but you will have to satisfy the powers that be that the child really is being educated...

[Sonak]

The child appears to play music & play with his football/ tennis ball usually. Do I just leave it or do something?

[Fay Mousse]

Phone the local council and ask to speak to the Education Authority - they will advise you

[north star]

Tom, I disagree, it would be for the 'powers that be' to show that he wasn't

[ilsonchick]

it is illegal have you not seen on the news when parents get sent to prison for 30 days or so because there child hasnt been in school and they get fined.. If its home school it needs to meet certain hours and education rules....report it to the Education Board if you are that concerned.

[kempie]

In England and Wales the Edication Acts make it clear that while education is compulsory, school attendance is not.

Parents (or the person who has care of the child) are responsible for ensuring that their children are properly educated but it is their decision whether to use schools or provide education at home. However, if a child of compulsory school age is registered at a school the responsibility of the parent is to ensure that the child regularly attends school.

And to answer north star's point, if the LEAs suspect that "a child of compulsory school age in their area is not receiving suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise, they shall serve a notice in writing on the parent requiring him to satisfy them within the period specified in the notice that the child is receiving such education." This means that parents answer to the Powers That Be, not vice versa.

[kempie]

^^^ So much for my "edication" :)

[Barmaid]

If a child is on a register at a particular school and fails to attend, the parent can be found guilty in court of failing either knowingly to send their child to school (more serious) or simply the strict liabilty offence of failing to send their child to school. However, as other posters have pointed out, if the child is registered as being home educated, he will not be on any school register and therefore the parents not liable to prosecution for not sending him to school..

I do not see that a third party has a legal duty to report it to the Education Authority - unless they are a person with parental responsibility for the child. If the latter is the case, then I suggest seeking help from the Education Authority to try and get children back into school. The EA will always prosecute parents who are doing nothing and will attempt to help those that meet them halfway.