The Department for Education states that “every moment in school counts and days missed add up quickly” and warns parents that they can face hefty fines if they take kids on term time holidays
With the weather having taken a colder turn, some families may be contemplating getting away abroad in the next few months for some hot weather and sunshine.
As the cost of trips abroad rockets dramatically over the school holidays, many households will have been priced out of a summer getaway this year.
So whilst the Department for Education (DfE) stresses that “every moment in school counts and days missed add up quickly”, some parents might consider taking their children out of school to make a holiday financially viable.
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However, unauthorised absences can lead to hefty fines. In England, Section 444 of the Education Act states that “failure to secure regular attendance at school of registered pupil” constitutes an offence.
And in 2017 the Supreme Court ruled that “regular attendance” means in “accordance with school rules”. Should you take a child aged between five and 16 out of school during term time, you’re unlikely to receive approval from the headteacher, making the absence unauthorised.
The DfE confirms that all schools will be required to consider issuing a fine if a child racks up ten or more unauthorised absences (equivalent to five days).
The previous penalty was set at £60 if settled within 21 days, or £120 if paid within 28 days. However, in August 2024, these amounts were hiked up to £80 and £160 respectively, reports Chronicle Live. These fines apply per parent and per child, with non-payment potentially leading to court proceedings.
If a parent is hit with a second fine for the same child within a three-year period, the penalty will be imposed at the higher rate of £160.
Each parent is limited to two fines within any three-year span, and further breaches could lead to a parenting order, which requires attendance at parenting classes, or even court proceedings, with a potential fine up to £2,500.
The Department for Education (DfE) has clarified that children can only miss school: if they are too ill, participating in religious observance, or if a parent has requested beforehand and received permission for the absence due to outstanding circumstances, if the local authority responsible for organising their transport to school has not done so yet or if it is not available on that day, or if they belong to a gypsy/traveller family with no fixed abode, and parent/s are required to travel for work that day resulting in their child not being able to attend school.
The DfE has stated that funds raised from parents being fined for unauthorised absences are solely used by the local authority to cover costs of administering the system, and to fund attendance support. Any extra money heads straight back to the government.
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