A petition calling for an end to school absence fines for parents who take children out of school during term time will be debated. Natalie Elliott who started the petition called for parents to be given “up to 10 days fine free.” It has been signed by over 180,000 people.
Elliott said that the system made parents “scared” to call the school when their child has a legitimate reason for absence, such as an illness. She has called for a clearer process for appeals.
“Poor attendance damages children’s prospects and term time holidays place the burden on teachers to support missed learning, affecting the entire class,” a Department for Education spokesperson said.
Under current rules, parents whose children miss school without a good reason are initially given a fixed penalty notice of £80, rising to £160 if it is not paid within 21 days. If the increased absence fines remain unpaid within 28 days, or a child is absent from school three or more times within three years, it can be taken to a magistrates court.
The court can then fine parents up to £2,500, issue a community order, a parenting order, or, in extreme cases, impose a prison sentence of up to three months.
“I think the current rules are just not fit for purpose,” Elliott, from Ripley in Derbyshire, said. “So, the legislation as it stands means that loads of parents are being criminalised for taking their child out of school. And a lot of the time this is due to things like sickness, bereavement, funerals. There’s so many reasons why families need to take the child out. I think there needs to be a clear appeals process. As it stands, families are not allowed to appeal a fixed penalty notice.”
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