When children miss school for term time holidays, not only do they miss out on important learning but they often take time to settle back into their learning routines.
The government is strengthening the rules around Education Penalty Notices. these are fixed penalty fines which can be issued by the Local Authority where 10 or more sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence take place.
They are most commonly issued to parents when a child misses school for a term time holiday taken without permission of the school.
The new stronger rules will apply to all offences taking place after August 2024.
- For the first fine issued after the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the fine will increase to £80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.
- If a second fine is then issued to the same parent for the same child within three years of the first fine it will be £160.
- Subsequent offences – no further fines can then be issued if two have already been issued to the same parent for the same child within the previous three years (starting with the date of the first fine); instead the parent will be prosecuted by the Local Authority in the Magistrates’ Court.
It’s therefore more important than ever that parents arrange to take family holidays in the school holidays and not in term time.