Major update in battle against term-time holiday fines | UK | News

The campaign against fines for parents who take their children out of school for holidays has reached a significant milestone. Parents often find themselves in a difficult position when it comes to booking family holidays.

During school breaks such as summer, Christmas, Easter and half-terms, the cost of travelling with children can soar. Airlines, hotels, holiday parks and entertainment providers all increase prices during these peak times, making every penny count for cash-strapped families.

However, taking a child out of school can result in a fine from local authorities, leaving parents to decide which option would be more financially damaging.

Under national regulations, schools are obliged to consider fining parents when a child has missed the equivalent of 10 days due to unauthorised absences. In August 2024, the cost of these fines rose for the first time since 2012.

This means that the fine is £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. However, this fine can be issued per parent, per child, potentially resulting in substantial costs for larger families.

The high cost of taking children out of school for holidays has sparked a significant national movement. A campaign to abolish the fines for up to 10 days is gaining momentum.

A petition titled ‘Allow parents to take their children out of school for up to 10 days fine free’ has now garnered more than 150,000 signatures on the Government petition website.

As a result, it now has to be debated by Parliament. The petition, which had 151,652 signatures at the time of writing, has been waiting for a debate date for 70 days.

The petition states: “We’re seeking reform to the punitive policy for term time leave that disproportionately impacts families that are already under immense pressure and criminalises parents that we think are making choices in the best interests of their families. No family should face criminal convictions.” 

However, the Government issued a response back in December 2024. The official reply indicates that the Government “sympathise[s] with parents who, for a variety of reasons, face barriers to securing their children’s school attendance.”

The reply says the Government is committed to “working with schools and local authorities to tackle barrier to school attendance”. However, it says it “takes seriously” the legal responsibility of parent to send their children to school “every day that they can”.

The reply adds: “On holidays in particular, we understand that some parents wish to avoid peak periods. However, the school year is structured in such a way as to provide plenty of time throughout the year for holidays outside of term-time, and schools also have considerable flexibility to plan term dates themselves, and hold inset days and other occasional days at less busy times of the year.”