Minister for Early Education Stephen Morgan says the government "would not automatically be granting two weeks of term time absence to every pupil."
SHARE:
The government has ruled out removing fines for unauthorised holidays during school term time after more than 250,000 people signed a petition calling for students to be allowed two weeks out of school each year without a penalty.
In a parliamentary debate triggered by the petition, Minister for Early Education Stephen Morgan said that the government “would not automatically be granting two weeks of term time absence to every pupil.”
He cited studies that showed the negative impact of regular absence on learning outcomes for both the absent child and their classmates and said the government was “not ashamed of the importance that we place on children attending school.”
New regulations increase fines for unauthorised absences
Earlier this year, the Department for Education increased fines for unauthorised school absences and introduced a limit of two fines per parent within three years, after which other actions such as parenting orders and prosecutions can be used.
Parents who take their children out of school without authorisation can be fined £80 for the first offence and £160 for a second offence within three years. Failure to pay the fines can also lead to prosecution.
Introducing the debate in Parliament, Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, said that parents who could not afford a holiday during the school break felt “criminalised” for wanting to spend time away from home with their children.
Parent groups frustrated by rigidity of regulations
Parent and campaigner Tracie Nemeth says that the regulations lack “nuance”. She believes that the definition of “exceptional circumstances” is too narrow, giving “no regard or respect for the complexity of family needs.”
Natalie Elliott, founder of the group Protest to Fight School Fines, adds that the group’s campaign is about more than just holiday leave, noting that children with autism, ADHD or anxiety can often feel that they are unable to attend school.
Rather than clamping down on absences through fines, Natalie wants schools to work with parents and children to support them back into school.
According to the Department for Education, 89% of unauthorised absences fines are accounted for by term time holidays. In his speech to Parliament, the Minister for Early Education added that the national framework for penalty notices strengthens protections for parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Increased fines strengthen school enforcement options
Michelle Griffiths, acting head teacher at Ashmole Primary School in Southgate, says that the threat of larger fines and prosecutions has helped schools to enforce the rules.
Smaller fines were not always an effective deterrent for unauthorised term time holidays, the school’s attendance officer Ashley Wilkinson added, because parents often choose to accept the fine to avoid the additional costs of travelling during the high season.
Minister Morgan said that fines were designed to provide “consistency and fairness across the country, but should always be used as a last resort.”
Shadow minister for education Neil O’Brien outlined the need to balance a desire for cheaper holidays with the impact of absence on children’s education and called on the government to get school absence under control.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineGovernment rules out removing fines for unauthorised school absences after parent petition
Short HeadlineGov't: pupils won't get two weeks' term time absence
StandfirstMore than 250,000 people signed a petition calling for students to be allowed two weeks out of school each year without a penalty.
The government has ruled out removing fines for unauthorised holidays during school term time after more than 250,000 people signed a petition calling for students to be allowed two weeks out of school each year without a penalty.
In a parliamentary debate triggered by the petition, Minister for Early Education Stephen Morgan said that the government “would not automatically be granting two weeks of term time absence to every pupil.”
He cited studies that showed the negative impact of regular absence on learning outcomes for both the absent child and their classmates and said the government was “not ashamed of the importance that we place on children attending school.”
New regulations increase fines for unauthorised absences
Earlier this year, the Department for Education increased fines for unauthorised school absences and introduced a limit of two fines per parent within three years, after which other actions such as parenting orders and prosecutions can be used.
Parents who take their children out of school without authorisation can be fined £80 for the first offence and £160 for a second offence within three years. Failure to pay the fines can also lead to prosecution.
Introducing the debate in Parliament, Dave Robertson, MP for Lichfield, said that parents who could not afford a holiday during the school break felt “criminalised” for wanting to spend time away from home with their children.
Parent groups frustrated by rigidity of regulations
Parent and campaigner Tracie Nemeth says that the regulations lack “nuance”. She believes that the definition of “exceptional circumstances” is too narrow, giving “no regard or respect for the complexity of family needs.”
Natalie Elliott, founder of the group Protest to Fight School Fines, adds that the group’s campaign is about more than just holiday leave, noting that children with autism, ADHD or anxiety can often feel that they are unable to attend school.
Rather than clamping down on absences through fines, Natalie wants schools to work with parents and children to support them back into school.
According to the Department for Education, 89% of unauthorised absences fines are accounted for by term time holidays. In his speech to Parliament, the Minister for Early Education added that the national framework for penalty notices strengthens protections for parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Increased fines strengthen school enforcement options
Michelle Griffiths, acting head teacher at Ashmole Primary School in Southgate, says that the threat of larger fines and prosecutions has helped schools to enforce the rules.
Smaller fines were not always an effective deterrent for unauthorised term time holidays, the school’s attendance officer Ashley Wilkinson added, because parents often choose to accept the fine to avoid the additional costs of travelling during the high season.
Minister Morgan said that fines were designed to provide “consistency and fairness across the country, but should always be used as a last resort.”
Shadow minister for education Neil O’Brien outlined the need to balance a desire for cheaper holidays with the impact of absence on children’s education and called on the government to get school absence under control.
