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Term-time holiday father given second fine for Lapland trip | Term-time holiday father given second fine for Lapland trip |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A father at the centre of a High Court legal battle over taking children on term-time holidays has been fined after taking his daughter out of school for a second trip. | A father at the centre of a High Court legal battle over taking children on term-time holidays has been fined after taking his daughter out of school for a second trip. |
Jonathan Platt successfully contested a fine from Isle of Wight Council for taking his young daughter on a family holiday to Florida in April 2015. | Jonathan Platt successfully contested a fine from Isle of Wight Council for taking his young daughter on a family holiday to Florida in April 2015. |
He said he had received a new £60 fine after taking her to Lapland with other family members. | He said he had received a new £60 fine after taking her to Lapland with other family members. |
The council is yet to comment. | The council is yet to comment. |
Mr Platt made national headlines when took his children to Disneyland in Florida in April despite his six-year-old daughter's absence being refused by her primary school. | Mr Platt made national headlines when took his children to Disneyland in Florida in April despite his six-year-old daughter's absence being refused by her primary school. |
He insisted he would not be paying the fine he received after the family holiday to Lapland. | He insisted he would not be paying the fine he received after the family holiday to Lapland. |
'Right thing to do' | 'Right thing to do' |
Under current council policy fines rise to £120 if unpaid before the parent is taken to court. | Under current council policy fines rise to £120 if unpaid before the parent is taken to court. |
Mr Platt has argued the law only demands children attend school "regularly" - not every day - and that therefore it is not illegal to take his children on holiday. | |
He said: "It's not against the law. It's the right thing to do and it's good for my kids. | |
"This idea that I have to justify to Isle of Wight Council what I do with my kids is a nonsense. | "This idea that I have to justify to Isle of Wight Council what I do with my kids is a nonsense. |
"It's not ideal, but sometimes it's necessary and the law does not prevent me from doing so." | "It's not ideal, but sometimes it's necessary and the law does not prevent me from doing so." |
Following the Disneyland trip, the council took him to court after he refused to pay an initial fine, which was doubled to £120. | Following the Disneyland trip, the council took him to court after he refused to pay an initial fine, which was doubled to £120. |
He won his case after he told magistrates that Section 444 of the Education Act did not put restrictions on holidays during term-time, provided pupils otherwise attended school regularly. | He won his case after he told magistrates that Section 444 of the Education Act did not put restrictions on holidays during term-time, provided pupils otherwise attended school regularly. |
The council has applied to the High Court for clarification on what constitutes "regular" attendance at school. The court is due to hear the case later this year. | The council has applied to the High Court for clarification on what constitutes "regular" attendance at school. The court is due to hear the case later this year. |
Mr Platt set up a crowdfunding webpage to help raise £25,000 for expected legal costs and has so far raised more than £2,000. | Mr Platt set up a crowdfunding webpage to help raise £25,000 for expected legal costs and has so far raised more than £2,000. |