School holiday fines: Sheffield parents have their say against fines for taking children out of class
The Star’s readers have had their say on whether parents should be fined for taking their children out of school during term time for holidays.
Parents cannot win.
If they wait until school holidays to take their children on holiday, the cost rises exponentially.
If they break the rules and take their children out of school during term time, they cut the costs but face fines, and possibly a day at court.
To say nothing of the ethical considerations for taking children out of class, which often turns to conversation about how much of our lives we spend in work and school, and that the best memories as a family are made when both are just forgotten about for a while.
However, a record 459,288 school holiday fines were issued in England last year, according to new figures from the Department for Education (DfE).
In Sheffield, a record breaking 7,359 fines were issued in 2024/25, up from 5,610 in 2023/24.
As well as that, in 2024/25, a total of 148 parents were issued their second fine for taking their child out of school for the second time in three years. Five parents were prosecuted.
The Star asked its readers: ‘Should parents be fined for taking their children on holiday during term time?’
The fine for taking children out of school begin at £80, rising to £160 if not paid in 21 days. Schools are required to consider fines when a child has missed five days for unauthorised reasons (although Government guidance is missing 10 ‘sessions,’ where a session is a morning or afternoon at school). The fine increases if absences persist.
It comes after the fine was lifted from £60 to £80 in 2024.
If a parent is prosecuted because their child hasn’t attended school, the fine can go up to £2,500.
Out of over 800 responses The Star received, more than 95 per cent said no, parents should not be fined.
Reader Jessica Walker wrote: “As a single parent I know I struggle to afford school holiday prices. I do my best but sometimes it’s unavoidable, my daughter deserves more than just school in her life and I love a holiday too.”
“When your kids look back in 20 years’ time, they will remember that holiday you took them on, but not the days they were in school instead of that holiday,” wrote Steve Griffin, “Make memories with your kids, because they are not kids for long.”
“Absolutely they should,” wrote Andy Maxted in support of the system. “Continued education is important and they have many breaks throughout the year to go on holiday.”
“Kids should go on holidays during school holidayt, but they should not be charged triple because it’s school holidays,” wrote Sarah Meyers. “As then others can enjoy holidays without kids. No one should be fined.”
Many made suggestions to take the pressure off the public - from cutting the costs of holidays in term time, granting families with good attendance flexible time for holidays,
Elaine RJ wrote: “Holiday companies should be stopped from putting prices up in school holidays. Then there would be no need to take them out of school.”
“No fine as long as attendance is normally good, and for no longer than five school days,” wrote Gaynor Simpson.
“Always thought six weeks [at summer] was a bit too long. Maybe give them four weeks in the summer and extra time off in the winter.”
“I teach my children 100 per cent attendance is a poor goal to achieve,” wrote Nicole Cox. “100 per cent effort however is the best goal to have. You can be physically present every single day, but due to exhaustion, frustration, illness, 100 per cent effort diminishes with these factors!”