Government guidance advises against taking holidays in term time and those who do face being fined (Image: Getty)
The days are getting longer, the sun is shining and temperatures are finally starting to warm up, which means . And as the warmer months arrive, it can prompt households to start thinking about for the year – but people are being urged to bear in mind an important ‘21 day rule’ first which, if broken, can land you a £160 fine.
is an expensive business so some households opt to cut costs by taking their children out of during term time for a getaway. But government guidance advises against taking holidays in term time and those who do can be issued with a fine from their local council. Councils can give each parent a fine of £80 for taking their children out of school before the term has ended, and this can double to £160 if you don’t pay it within 21 days.
The Government explains: “Your local council can give each parent a fine of £80, rising to £160 if you do not pay within 21 days. From the 2024 to 2025 school year, each parent will only get up to 2 fines for the same child in a 3-year period. If you get 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.
“If your child is off school three or more times within the three years you will not be fined but may be taken to court. You could get a fine of up to £2,500, a community order or a jail sentence up to three months. The court could also give you a Parenting Order.”
According to research from , councils across England issue thousands of penalty notices each year, with the latest data showing more than 180,000 fines were handed out in the 2022/23 school year alone. This means UK parents collectively paid over £10 million in fines for taking their children out of school.
For parents of multiple children, the costs can quickly add up with a family of two parents and two children facing fines of up to £640 if the penalties aren’t within the 21 day period.
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Schools have strict rules around attendance and holidays are rarely approved unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as a bereavement or a parent in the military returning from deployment. But a holiday is generally not considered an exceptional circumstance so you normally cannot take your child away during term time.
My 1st Years says parents who are looking to take their children on holiday during the school year should be aware that:
- Fines are issued by local councils, not schools
- If fines are unpaid, legal action can follow
- Some councils issue thousands of fines per year
Molly Ejdowski, brand marketing manager at My 1st Years, said: “Every parent wants to make special memories with their children, but the rules around term-time absences can make this difficult.
“With fines adding up quickly, it’s important for parents to be aware of the policies before booking a trip. While Google provides quick answers, every school and local council has its own policies, so checking official sources is always the best approach.”