Parents could end up in court for doing this
A generic image of a child on a plane(Image: g&l images via Getty Images)
Thousands of parents in the Bristol area have been fined for taking their child out of school during term time, according to new data.
New figures obtained by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests show that 5,202 fines were issued by Bristol City Council to parents and guardians in 2022 and 2023, with no data being released for 2024.
North Somerset Council, on the other hand, issued 3,910 fines between 2022 and 2024, with nearly half of these being issued in the space of a year (1,660 in 2024).
A total of 3,506 fines were issued by South Gloucestershire Council between 2022 and 2024, with the figure staying relatively stable between 1,017 and 1,315.
As of August 2024, parents who take their children out of school during term time without authorisation can face fines of up to £160. But the rules vary across the UK.
In England, the fine is £80 if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid within 28 days. In Wales, it’s £60 if paid within 28 days, increasing to £120 if paid within 42 days.
However, if a parent receives a second fine in 3 years, it will be £160. If you do not pay the fine in 28 days you may be taken to court for keeping your child out of school.
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “We are guided by evidence which demonstrates that children who are persistently absent from school do not achieve the same educational and social outcomes as children with consistent attendance.
“For this reason, we remain committed to working closely with schools and parents to reduce absence from South Gloucestershire Schools and the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) due to unauthorised school absence is an element of that work.
“The income received is reinvested to support the service costs and schemes aimed to improve school attendance in the district.”
Scotland and Northern Ireland currently do not issue fines for unauthorised school absences though schools in these countries could still take legal action.
In a statement, Confused.com said: “Despite the financial penalties, many parents continue to take their children out of school during term time, often for holidays.
“A survey of 1,100 UK parents and guardians with school aged children found that nearly 2 in 5 (38%) who had an unauthorised absence admit to taking their child out of school for a holiday. Over half (56%) said the main reason is because travelling is cheaper outside of school holidays.
” On average, parents saved £567 when taking their children out of school for a holiday, with 16% of parents saying they saved over £1,000 by doing so. However, 13% say they would consider taking their child out of school if they could save between £400 and £500.”