Education Supervision Orders (ESO)

An Education Supervision Order (ESO) is a legal measure used by local authorities in England and Wales to support children who are not attending school regularly. It is designed to help families improve school attendance without immediately resorting to prosecution.

What is an ESO?

An ESO is granted by the Family Court under Section 36 of the Children Act 1989. It places a child under the supervision of a local authority-appointed officer, usually an Attendance Support Officer, who works closely with the child, parents, school, and other agencies to address the reasons for poor attendance.

When an ESO is used

An ESO is considered when:

• a child is persistently absent from school
• parents are not engaging with voluntary support
• there is concern that prosecution alone would not improve the situation
• the child is refusing to attend school despite parental efforts

Before applying for an ESO, the local authority will usually hold a planning meeting with the family, school, and any involved professionals to create a voluntary support plan. If this plan fails and attendance does not improve, an ESO may be applied for with the family's knowledge and involvement.

How it works

Once granted, the ESO:

• lasts for 12 months (renewable annually for up to 3 years)
• appoints a Supervising Officer to support and direct the child and parents
• requires all parties to follow a formal plan to improve attendance
• gives the local authority the power to direct the child and parents in matters related to education

Parents retain parental responsibility, but they must comply with the directions of the Supervising Officer. They cannot move the child to another school without the local authority's permission during the ESO.

If the ESO is ignored

If the child or parents do not comply:

• the Supervising Officer may issue a warning
• the case may be referred to Social Care for further assessment
• the court may discharge the ESO and recommend other interventions
• parents may face a fine of up to £1,000 for persistent non-compliance