Parents are being reminded that they will face fines for breaking a school summer holiday rule, which some claim is unfair, starting from Monday. Tens of thousands of parents are fined every year for taking their children out of class during term time to go on holiday.
Fines Ramp Up as Summer Holidays Approach
Fines are likely to increase from this week as more families head off on their summer holidays. Parents face financial penalties if they take their kids out of school during term time, with thousands paying the penalty every year. Many families will be planning to go away now while prices are cheaper, before costs surge during the August break. They run the risk of fines from schools and local councils.
Financial Considerations
Many parents choose to accept fines, knowing it will be cheaper than forking out for a holiday during August when the kids are off school. Latest research from Confused.com suggests parents save £567 on average by going on holiday during term time. This means £80 fines, which were recently hiked to make parents think twice, may make financial sense on the face of it. However, parents also need to consider the potential impact on their children's education and the views of headteachers who may be less than impressed.
Parental Perspectives
Some couples have told BirminghamLive how they choose to take their child out of school to go on holiday and will continue to do so. Data obtained from Birmingham City Council showed 11,605 fines were issued by the city council between May 2025 and January 2026.
Expert Advice
Tom Vaughan, from Confused.com, said: "For some families, taking a holiday before the school term ends can seem like an easy way to save money. Travelling outside of peak school holiday periods often means lower prices and fewer crowds. Our research found that parents and guardians saved £567 on average by taking trips during term time. But it's important to weigh up those savings against the potential costs, as UK parents and guardians were issued £41 million in fines for term-time holidays between 2022 and 2024."
Beyond the financial penalties, parents should also consider the impact on their child's attendance record. Unauthorised term-time holidays are recorded on a child's school register and might lower their overall attendance percentage. Schools and local authorities monitor attendance closely, while Ofsted reviews it during inspections.
