Andy Burnham, the Labour Party Prime Minister, has been urged to reconsider the current policy of imposing fines on parents who take their children out of school for holidays during term time.
In an article for The Guardian, writer Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett argued in favour of abolishing fines for term-time holidays, stating, “I’m all for the nanny state – but we should abolish fines for holidays in term time.” She highlighted the widespread disregard of these regulations among parents, describing it as “mass civil disobedience” across England and Wales.
Recent data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows that a record 459,288 fines were issued in England last year for unauthorised term-time absences, representing a 4% increase over the previous year. These fines accounted for 93% of all penalties issued for unauthorised school absence.
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Local councils may issue fines of £80 to each parent, rising to £160 if unpaid after 21 days. From the 2024-25 school year, a parent can receive up to two fines for the same child within a three-year period. A second fine within this timeframe will be £160, and failure to pay within 28 days may result in court proceedings. Furthermore, repeated absences-three or more within three years-can also lead to court action, even without fines.
Cosslett emphasised that fines appear ineffective, pointing out that “taking your child out of school for a holiday is an ongoing act of mass civil disobedience on the part of the public in England and Wales,” whereas Scotland and Northern Ireland do not impose automatic fines for such absences.
Public responses to the debate have varied. One reader suggested focusing on “the ridiculous price-gouging of school holiday prices,” while another questioned where the boundary should be drawn, noting that most full-time workers have five weeks of statutory leave.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education reaffirmed the government’s stance, stating, “Every child deserves the best start in life, and that begins with being in school. Term-time holidays place the burden on teachers to support missed learning and affect the entire class. We are playing our part to support those children who face barriers to attending school, and this is making a difference – with five million more days in school last academic year and 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent. Alongside this, fines continue to have a vital place in our system, so everyone is held accountable for ensuring children are in school.”