Families fined for term time holidays

West Berkshire Council has issued 109 fixed penalty notices during 2010/11 - more than double the number in 2008/09

THE NUMBER of parents fined for taking their children on holiday during term time has more than doubled in the past two years.

West Berkshire Council has revealed that the £50 fixed penalty notices can go up to £100 if not paid within 28 days and that it will pursue parents through the courts if necessary.

The figures were revealed as a solicitor compared one such prosecution this week to “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut,” leaving taxpayers with a £2,500 costs bill.

Reading magistrates heard how the parents, from Calcot, removed their two teenage children from school for one week during term time last September.

The pair, who can not be named for legal reasons, claimed they had sought permission from the school but that, when this did not arrive on time, they took the decision to remove them from school for the week.

Adonis Daniel, defending, accused the council of “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

The council sought to recoup its legal costs from the couple but magistrates imposed a conditional discharge and refused to order the parents to pay.

The Government introduced powers for education authorities to issue fixed penalty notices for parents who removed their children from school during term time in 2008.

In 2008/9, West Berkshire Council issued 54 fine notices; in 2009/10 the figure was 96 and by 2010/11 the figure has risen to 109 so far.

Council spokeswoman Peta Stoddart-Crompton defended the decision to prosecute and said the couple had been taken to court because they had not paid the fine.

She said the couple had taken their children on holiday during term time in 2009 and were warned they would be fined if it happened again.

Miss Stoddart-Crompton added: “There were four court appearances, at the behest of the parents, which escalated costs.”

She was unable to state the council's policy on parents who sought prior permission to take their children on holiday during term time.

However Paul Dick, executive head at Kennet School in Thatcham and Trinity School in Newbury, said: “In fact, what a lot of people don't realise is that the law only allows parents to do so if an employer will only allow employees to take holidays during term time.”

Mr Dick said that, in such rare cases, the decision then rested with individual schools.

“It's then at the individual school's discretion but, because of this rule, 99.9 per cent of the time the answer is no.”

Executive councillor for education, Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston), said: “Families should take the holiday they can afford and not remove children because it's cheaper in term time.”

What do you think? Have your say on our forum or, if you have had to remove your children from school during term time, contact reporter John Garvey on 01635 564 528 or via email at john.garvey@newburynews.co.uk