Warning for parents booking holidays with major fine to rise for first time in 12 years – what you’ll have to pay
FAMILIES planning to book holidays outside of term time from September are being warned ahead of a truancy fine hike.
Parents whose children miss five days of school will face a £160 fine when a new government attendance drive comes into force in late August.
Currently, the local authority decides when to issue fines to parents, meaning the process varies from council to council.
However, under the new national crackdown, all schools will be required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (five days) for unauthorised reasons.
From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will rise from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days.
If you fail to pay a fine issued within 21 days, you’ll have to pay double – £160, to be precise, up from the previous £120.
This Department for Education says the rate is in line with inflation and is the first increase since 2012.
Fines per parent will be capped at two fines within any three-year period.
Once this limit has been reached, other actions like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.
If you’re prosecuted and attend court because your child hasn’t been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced the plans back in February.
Ms Keegan highlighted a “worldwide rise in absence” due to schools shutting in lockdown and worsening pupil’s mental health.
She said: “Our fantastic schools and teachers unlock children’s imagination, potential and social skills, which is why improving attendance is my number one priority.”
When aren’t these fines issued?
Truancy fines will not be issued to parents if their kids miss school in certain circumstances.
For example, you won’t be fined if your child is too ill to attend.
Parents will also avoid being fined under the following circumstances:
- You have asked in advance and been given permission by the school for your child to be absent on that day due to exceptional circumstances.
- Your child cannot attend school on that day because it is a day you are taking part in religious observance.
- Your local authority is responsible for arranging your child’s transport to school and it is not available on that day or has not been provided yet.
- You are a gypsy/traveller family with no fixed abode, and you are required to travel for work that day, meaning your child cannot attend their usual school.
Help with getting your kids to school
IF you're having trouble getting your child to go to school, the school and local council can help.
The school will discuss attendance problems with you and should agree a plan with you to improve your child’s attendance.
A lot of local councils have teams that help parents improve their child’s attendance at school.
The council will tell you if they’re able to help. Forms of help could include:
- Support to reduce the burden on children where families are in difficulty (for example, if a child is spending a lot of time caring for someone)
- Working with families and schools to overcome bullying and other serious problems
- A parenting contract
A parenting contract is a voluntary written agreement between you and either the local council or the school’s governing body.
Between you, you agree to find ways to improve your child’s attendance.
If you refuse to make a contract or you do not stick to it, it can be used as evidence if the local council decides to prosecute you.
When are these fines issued?
If your child is absent and you haven’t received advance permission from the headteacher to take your child out of school, the school and local council may take action.
Before that, your child’s school and your local council are expected to support you to improve the child’s attendance before any measures are put in place.
As a first port of call, they might issue a fixed penalty notice, otherwise known as a “fine”.
If you do not pay the fine after 28 days, you may be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.
If that doesn’t resolve the issue of attendance, the local authority could then seek an education supervision order from the family court.
If the council thinks you need support getting your child to go to school but you’re not cooperating, they can apply to a court for an education supervision order.
A supervisor will be appointed to help you get your child into education.
The local council can do this instead of, or as well as, prosecuting you.
This would mean you would have to go to court.
You could be fined up to £2,500, given a community order, or jailed for up to three months.