Parents ‘not deterred’ by fines for holidays during school terms, survey finds

The majority of parents say that fines for unauthorised absences would not deter them from taking their children on holiday during school terms, a survey has found.

Almost three in five parents – 57% – have or would consider their child missing school for a day or more for a term-time holiday, according to a survey by the charity Parentkind.

The same proportion said the risk of receiving a fine would not impact their decision to take their child out of school.

The poll, of nearly 5,500 parents from across the UK, was carried out by YouGov in April and May before higher fines for unauthorised pupil absences came into effect in England.

The government increased school absence fines from £60 to £80 this academic year in an attempt to boost attendance since the pandemic.

A parent who receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will now automatically receive a £160 penalty.

More than half of parents said they were opposed to the policy changes, the poll found.

The Department for Education (DfE) has said other actions, such as a parenting order or prosecution, will be considered if a parent receives more than two fines per child within a three-year period. Those who are prosecuted may receive a fine of up to £2,500.

Nearly one in five – 18% – parents polled said it was harder to get their child to attend school compared to before the pandemic, while almost a third (31%) said they were “more relaxed” about their child’s attendance since the COVID lockdowns.

The poll also found that one in seven parents (14%) admitted their child spends seven hours or more a day on electronic devices such as phones or game consoles, on weekdays outside school.

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Parentkind has urged the government to publish the evidence on smartphone harm and introduce legislation to ban smartphones for children.

The charity’s survey also found that some parents reported skipping meals and rationing heating to cope with financial pressures.

More than one in five said they have struggled to afford costs associated with sending their child to school, including uniforms and class trips. Some 11% said they had taken out a loan or taken on debt to pay for these costs.

Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, said: “Many parents are struggling to make ends meet and get children away from their screens, it is no wonder they are tempted by a term-time holiday.

“We’re calling for a big commitment from ministers to listen to what parents are saying when it comes to making family life cheaper, clamping down on rip-off holiday costs and banning smartphones for children,” he added.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Ultimately, fines are a blunt tool. Many teachers and leaders are already doing a huge amount to help support children back into school, and attendance figures have started to improve.

“The best way for the government to tackle the causes behind persistent absence is to fund those services that support both families and schools – which faced devastating cuts under the austerity of the last government.”