Councils lift term-time holiday fines following High Court victory
More parents are expected to flout rules against term-time holidays following the publication of latest research which shows that some councils have stopped action against mums and dads who take their kids out of school for family breaks.
At least nine councils in England have dropped legal proceedings against parents while a further six have decided not to issue fines, according to research by the BBC.
Its findings were released as MPs prepare today to discuss a petition against term-time holiday fines, launched by a father with cancer who was issed with Penalty Notices after he took his two eldest children out of school because it was the only time he could travel between treatments. His petition attracted around 200,000 signatures.
The BBC study, carried out after dad Jon Platt’s court victory against Isle of Wight council, which had tried to fine him for taking his daughter out of school for a trip to Florida, found that while most councils had not changed their policy as a result, several had.
Of the 80 councils who responded to the BBC’s request for information, Trafford, Dudley, Wakefield, Portsmouth, Devon, Warwickshire, Sandwell, Derby and South Gloucestershire said they had dropped legal action against parents.
Bury, Derby, Southwark, Oldham, Cornwall, Dorset and Lambeth have stopped issuing fines, according to the BBC.
However, 49 councils said they weren’t changing any of their procedures.
Under rules introduced in September 2013, children can only be taken out of school during term time in ‘exceptional circumstances’. Parents who take their children away without the school’s permission risk a £60 fine, which doubles to £120 if it is not paid within three weeks.
Parents who refuse to pay – like Jon Platt – face prosecution and a maximum £2,500 fine or up to three months in prison.
However, a High Court ruled that Isle of Wight council was wrong to fine Platt because his daughter had an otherwise good attendance record. The council has been given leave to request an appeal hearing at the Supreme Court.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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