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| 'Big rise' in fines for parents over holiday absences | 'Big rise' in fines for parents over holiday absences |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The number of parents being fined for taking their child out of school for a holiday has risen dramatically, according to BBC research. | The number of parents being fined for taking their child out of school for a holiday has risen dramatically, according to BBC research. |
| The study, by BBC One's Breakfast programme, suggests the number of fines issued has increased by more than 70%. | The study, by BBC One's Breakfast programme, suggests the number of fines issued has increased by more than 70%. |
| The 34 councils across England that responded said almost 5,300 fines had been imposed during the autumn term. | |
| Last September the government introduced tougher regulations on term-time absence for holidays. | Last September the government introduced tougher regulations on term-time absence for holidays. |
| Parents in England and Wales have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school, unless they have opted to home-educate them. | Parents in England and Wales have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school, unless they have opted to home-educate them. |
| If they fail to do so, they are committing an offence under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996. | If they fail to do so, they are committing an offence under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996. |
| Parents can put in requests for term-time holidays, but these are granted or refused entirely at the head teacher's discretion and are not a parental right. | Parents can put in requests for term-time holidays, but these are granted or refused entirely at the head teacher's discretion and are not a parental right. |
| The cost of a holiday is often lower during term time, with companies responding to higher demand by putting up prices during school breaks. | The cost of a holiday is often lower during term time, with companies responding to higher demand by putting up prices during school breaks. |
| Heads in England were previously able to grant up to 10 days of leave a year for family holidays in "special circumstances". | Heads in England were previously able to grant up to 10 days of leave a year for family holidays in "special circumstances". |
| But since 1 September 2013, they have no longer been able to grant any absence in term time except under "exceptional circumstances". | But since 1 September 2013, they have no longer been able to grant any absence in term time except under "exceptional circumstances". |
| 'Damaging effect' | 'Damaging effect' |
| The measures are part of a tougher approach to the issue, which has also left parents responsible for unauthorised absences more likely to be prosecuted and given less time to pay the fines. | The measures are part of a tougher approach to the issue, which has also left parents responsible for unauthorised absences more likely to be prosecuted and given less time to pay the fines. |
| Liverpool City Council has seen one of the biggest increases in the number of parents fined - up from 97 in the autumn term of 2012 to 250 in autumn 2013. | Liverpool City Council has seen one of the biggest increases in the number of parents fined - up from 97 in the autumn term of 2012 to 250 in autumn 2013. |
| Ron Collinson, from the council, says the tougher measures have had a dramatic effect on raising attendance rates. | Ron Collinson, from the council, says the tougher measures have had a dramatic effect on raising attendance rates. |
| "We have the best figures for the autumn term that we've ever had," he said. | "We have the best figures for the autumn term that we've ever had," he said. |
| "Part of that improvement is certainly due to this particular piece of work." | "Part of that improvement is certainly due to this particular piece of work." |
| He says he has sympathy for parents trying to cut the cost of their family holiday, but that the interests of the child have to come first. | He says he has sympathy for parents trying to cut the cost of their family holiday, but that the interests of the child have to come first. |
| "You save a lot of money, but you pay the cost at the other end in terms of your child's schooling." | "You save a lot of money, but you pay the cost at the other end in terms of your child's schooling." |
| A Department for Education spokesman said: "Poor attendance at school can have a hugely damaging effect, and children who attend school regularly are nearly four times more likely to achieve five or more good GCSEs than those who are regularly absent. | A Department for Education spokesman said: "Poor attendance at school can have a hugely damaging effect, and children who attend school regularly are nearly four times more likely to achieve five or more good GCSEs than those who are regularly absent. |
| "That is why we have given schools more power to tackle poor attendance and allowed them to intervene much earlier. | "That is why we have given schools more power to tackle poor attendance and allowed them to intervene much earlier. |
| "We are giving all schools the autonomy to set their own term dates", he added. | "We are giving all schools the autonomy to set their own term dates", he added. |
| "We want to see more parents asking schools to consider changes to term and holiday dates that will work for pupils and their families." | "We want to see more parents asking schools to consider changes to term and holiday dates that will work for pupils and their families." |
| BBC Breakfast made requests for information about parental fines to 76 of England's 152 local authorities. Of these, 34 answered the specific questions in a way that made a term-on-term comparison possible. | BBC Breakfast made requests for information about parental fines to 76 of England's 152 local authorities. Of these, 34 answered the specific questions in a way that made a term-on-term comparison possible. |
| The programme found six of those councils had not fined any parents, two had seen a decrease in parents fined, and 26 reported an increase. | The programme found six of those councils had not fined any parents, two had seen a decrease in parents fined, and 26 reported an increase. |
| Overall, the average increase for the local authorities that responded was 74%. | Overall, the average increase for the local authorities that responded was 74%. |