The preschool at Winter Gardens Academy in Canvey Island, Essex. Picture: Winter Gardens Academy

The shock move at the primary school could see parents slapped with fixed penalty notices — of $100 (£60) per parent, per child — if children arrive after 9am and miss registration.

And if they do not pay up within 21 days the penalty will double to $200 (£120) per parent, per child.

It means a couple with two kids who fail to pay within the deadline face a whopping bill of $811 (£480).

The clampdown was revealed in the newsletter from Winter Gardens Academy in Canvey Island, Essex.

Principal Catherine Stalham warned: “Any children arriving after 9am will be marked as late on the register as from April 1.

“Continuous late comers may be issued with a fixed penalty notice.”

If kids regularly arrive after 9am parents will now face fines. Picture: SuppliedSource:Getty Images

Parents were furious at the move and claimed it was a “money making opportunity”.

“Absolutely ridiculous. It’s just a money making opportunity yet again,” Canvey resident Gary Underdone said.

As she collected her grandkids, Anne Bull said, “It’s bad enough them getting fines when they go on holiday.

“It is a step too far, people are struggling as it is.”

But one parent agreed with the move.

“I’m in agreement with the school. It’s the parents’ fault for not getting up — not their kids.”

Another mum added, “To be honest I think people should be fined if they are late, there’s no excuse for lateness. I’m never late, if I am there is a very good reason”.

Principals in the UK have been able to fine parents of regular truants under laws introduced by the Labour Government in 2003.

Three years ago the Government axed their discretionary power to allow children up to ten days off during term time.

Hundreds of parents have since been fined for going on holiday in term-time — but some had the penalties overturned after courts ruled they were not wrong to take their kids out of school.

Now, Ms Stalham is targeting the parents of children who regularly miss registration.

The move by the school angered many parents but drew support from some. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Limited

Fines would be issued by Essex County Council’s Missing Education and Child Employment Services department.

A source stressed penalties were a “last resort”, adding, “It’s not a case of being fined after just being ten minutes late once, for example”.

“It’s about when kids are turning up hugely late, regularly.”

Essex County Council’s Ray Gooding defended the move.

“There are clear links between attendance and attainment, and every lesson really does count,” Gooding said.

“Parents have a legal duty to ensure regular and punctual school attendance.

“If a pupil arrives after the register has closed, schools can then refer the absence to our service as unauthorised.

“If the Essex Code of Conduct criteria are met, penalty notices can then be issued as a last resort.”

But councillor Ray Howard has pledged to help parents fight the fines.

“Headteachers have an exceptionally hard time with this and need to maintain good attendance to protect the school,” Howard said.

“However, I believe under exceptional circumstances parents should not be punished.

“If a parent feels they are being unfairly prosecuted they should come to me as their county councillor.”

Principal Ms Stalham said in a statement: “Parents have a legal duty to ensure their children attend school regularly and the vast majority recognise the importance of punctuality in ensuring pupils get the best possible education”.

“We have a very clear attendance policy, which is in line with national guidelines, and will always work with families to improve any attendance issues in the first instance.

“If children are persistently late and absences are unauthorised, the matter can be referred to the Missing Education and Child Employment Service.

“If certain criteria are met, a fixed penalty notice may be issued to parents.

“This system is not unique to our school and has been in place for some time.

“Fixed penalty notices are only ever a last resort and we have never had to pursue such action for lateness alone.”