Parents of children with complex needs worried they could be unfairly fined under new school absence rules
The government has increased fines for parents whose children miss school without permission in a new bid to crack down on absences across England.
The move comes amid growing concern over declining school attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent figures show around one in 10 pupils are now "persistently absent" - missing at least 10% of school days.
It has led to fears of widening gaps in educational achievement, especially for disadvantaged students.
Parents now face an £80 fine - an increase of £20 - if their child is absent without a valid reason for five days in a 10-week period.
It increases to £160 if not paid within 21 days.
Nearly 400,000 fines were issued last year and 89% were for taking a child on holiday during term time.
Rules around fines were previously under guidance for schools but over the summer the government made it the law to fine parents.
However, the change has prompted concern among some parents, such as those who have children with complex needs who worry they will be fined if their child can't cope.
Becq Reynolds' son, Dominic, has been waiting for an autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), diagnosis for over two years.
Last year his attendance fell dramatically as he struggled with all aspects of school.
Ms Reynolds said: "I'm under that pressure to get him into school, that results in me shouting, that results in me getting myself worked up.
"And no child wants to go to school with that start to the day, it's horrible."
Under the new law, daily attendance data will be sent to the local authority and Ms Reynolds is worried fines will be inevitable.
"When he was little, when he was four, I could pick him up out of bed, make him come and have his breakfast, and take him into school," she said.
"And that makes me feel I'm not good enough, I'm not a good enough parent."
Dominic's school in Hemel Hempstead said it had "put positive steps in place to support Dominic's return to school as well as follow the rules around sanctions".
However, it said it shared the family's frustration with the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) system.
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Andrew Dunn, the head teacher at Newman Catholic College in north London, said deciding when to fine parents would not be simple.
"We have a case here where a young person who is displaying mental health issues has not been in school for a number of months," he said.
"Our approach there is to put support at home for tutoring to ensure that child is being educated."
Mr Dunn said it was currently "difficult to say" whether that child's parents would be fined but they would approach each absence on a case-by-case basis.
Education solicitor Sherina Kabir told Sky News: "Slapping costly fines at a time of cost-of-living crisis, or worse criminalising parents, is counterproductive and will not improve school attendance."
A government spokesperson told Sky News it had "a support-first approach" and fines should only be used where they are likely to change a parent's behaviour and prompt regular attendance.
However, they added "parents have a legal responsibility to make sure their child is in school".
