It’s certainly a well-earned summer break for youngsters in Dartford and Gravesham this year, with new figures revealing an increase in school attendance rates across both boroughs.

At primary schools the rate is up to 96% in Dartford, from 95.5%, and up to 95.7% in Gravesham. from 95.3%. Secondary school attendance is now 95.6% in Dartford (up from 95.3%) and 95.3% in Gravesham (94.5%).

The trends match those across Kent, with attendance rates up across the county and fewer parents being prosecuted by Kent County Council (KCC) as a result.

And while the improvements may seem small, it is a step in the right direction.

KCC put the improvements down to its new code of conduct regarding penalty notices issued to parents over their child’s attendance, which was introduced in January.

A spokesman said: “Under the new Code of Conduct a penalty notice for unauthorised absence is only issued where a child has attendance of 90% or below, or where there are compounding factors that put together worsen the circumstances.

“Examples of these factors include removing a child from school over a period of examination, or a child repeatedly arriving to school late on top of having unauthorised family holidays in term-time.

“This level of attendance is equivalent to taking one day off school every two weeks, which is unacceptable.”

KCC has successfully prosecuted 73 cases of unauthorised absences since May, although the number of penalty notices handed out relating to absences at Dartford and Gravesham schools has fallen dramatically.

There have been 147 issued for Dartford this past academic year and 240 in Gravesham, compared to 289 and 384 respectively in 2014/15.

Across the county there have been 4,452 issued, compared to 4,726 in 2014/15 and 5,622 in 2013/14.

A number of Dartford and Gravesham parents were hit with fines during cases heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court last week, although none were made to pay the maximum of £1,000.

One Dartford mum was fined £500, plus £70 in court costs and a £50 victim surcharge, due to her child’s poor attendance. The youngster had an attendance rate of just 51% in 2015/16 and 76 unauthorised absences.

“The county council believe pupils must attend school regularly in order to benefit fully from education provision" KCC

Despite numerous home visits and calls from both the school and Kent County Council (KCC), attendance did not improve and the case was brought to court.

Another mum, this time from Northfleet, saw her daughter’s attendance fall to 55% with 40 unauthorised absences.

Home visits and meetings were arranged but to no avail and she was fined £400, plus £70 court costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

They were two of eight cases heard by magistrates on Monday, August 1, and all resulted in fines being handed out.

The KCC spokesman continued: “The county council believe pupils must attend school regularly in order to benefit fully from education provision.

“Kent schools’ attendance rate has improved in the past year and is now nearly 96%.”