Parents across the UK could be fine-free when taking their children out of school for holidays, as the Government considers debating a major rule change.
A new petition (you can still get involved) calls for parents to be able to take their children out of school for up to 10 days without facing fines, arguing that the current system disproportionately punishes families—especially those with additional needs or financial constraints.
Why Are Parents Pushing for Change?
Under current rules parents are fined depending on the country, in some cases, families have even faced court action and criminal records.
School Absence Fines and Possible Prosecution by Country
| Country | First Offence | Second Offence | Will You Be Prosecuted? |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | £80/parent if paid in 21 days £160/parent if paid within 28 days | Second incident will automatically be a £160 fine | Capped at two incidents, then you will be prosecuted. You can also be prosecuted if you don’t pay any fine in 28 days. If you’re prosecuted and attend court, you could be fined up to £2500. |
| Wales | N/A | N/A | Head teachers can still authorise 10 days in certain circumstances, but you can also be fined for unauthorised absences. |
| Scotland | Up to £1000 if prosecuted | Up to £1000 if prosecuted | Local Education Authorities (LEAs) can issue ‘attendance orders’ to make a parent explain a pupil’s absence. If parents don’t comply or give a reasonable excuse, they can be taken to court and could face up to one month in prison and a fine of up to £1,000. |
| Northern Ireland | N/A | N/A | Parents can be referred to the Education Welfare Service if a child’s attendance drops below 85%. If parents don’t engage with the service, they could be fined up to £1,000, but this is only used as a last resort. |
But campaigners argue that:
✅ The fines unfairly target working families who can’t afford inflated holiday prices during school breaks.
✅ SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) children are disproportionately affected, with some unable to cope with strict school attendance policies.
✅ There is no strong evidence that term-time absences seriously harm a child’s education—with critics saying the Government has only looked at weak correlations rather than real causation.
A spokesperson for the petition said:
“No family should face criminal convictions for making choices in the best interests of their children. We need a more flexible, fair system.”
What Could Change?
The Government is being urged to reconsider the strict fines policy and allow parents to take their children out of school for up to 10 days without penalties.
If the debate moves forward, potential changes could include:
🔹 More flexibility for parents—especially for unavoidable travel, family events, or SEND-related absences.
🔹 A cap on fines or exemptions for certain families.
🔹 Greater emphasis on education quality rather than attendance percentages.
What Do Parents Think?
💬 Some support the petition, arguing:
• “Holidays are 2-3 times the price in peak season. Why should only the wealthy be able to go away?”
• “Attendance policies don’t consider real-life challenges—sometimes kids need time out.”
⚖️ Others are concerned:
• “Taking kids out of school for a week can disrupt their learning—should education take priority?”
• “If they remove fines, won’t some parents just take advantage and pull kids out for non-educational reasons?”
What Happens Next?
The petition has gained significant attention, and the Government may now debate a possible rule change.
What do you think? Should parents have the right to take their children out of school without fines? Let us know in the comments!
