Increase in truancy convictions for term-time holidays in West Berkshire

Official figures reveal the number of West Berkshire parents prosecuted through the courts has risen sharply since 2011, with fines totalling £11,400 being imposed in the 12 months from September 2013.
The total amount for the preceding year was just £7,140 and £4,500 for the 12 months before that.
The local statistics reflect national data which shows record numbers of parents were issued with truancy fines last year, even as the number of pupils persistently missing classes fell.
In a typical case, reported by this newspaper last month, a Newbury family was ordered by town magistrates to pay a total of £440 in fines and court costs for defying a headteacher by taking their child on what they claimed was a one-off, holiday-of-a-lifetime opportunity during term time.
The parents said they had been unaware that the £60 fine – which tempted them to knowingly risk prosecution – was applicable to both parents and, when they were unable to pay within the specified time, was doubled.
Official figures show the number of West Berkshire pupils whose parents have been fined for their child’s unauthorised absence – for whatever reason – has been rising.
From September 2011 to August 2012, the figure was 86.
This rose to 103 for the following 12 months and jumped to 141 for the same period in 2013/14.
In the three months from from last September to December 16, 2014, the figure was already 53.
Education portfolio holder for West Berkshire Council, Irene Neill (Con, Alder-maston), confirmed that the council had adopted a tougher approach to parents who take children on holiday during term time to take advantage of cheaper breaks.
She said: “Generally, and although it’s down to individual headteachers, the council does feel that schools should be harder than they used to be over the last few years on removing children from class for holidays during term time.
“The stance has been toughened and it will continue to be like that.”
Mrs Neill said she had sympathy for parents struggling to make ends meet and still afford to take children on relatively expensive term-time holidays, but added: “I missed five weeks of secondary school due to illness and it affected my entire life.
“I don’t want to suggest it was dramatic or traumatic but I missed out, especially in subjects I wasn’t very good at, such as languages, and I never caught up.”
Executive head of three West Berkshire schools, Paul Dick, said: “I understand, as a parent myself, that holidays in term time are much less expensive but we have a choice as to what sort of holiday we have.
“Education is crucial because it increases life chances for children, full stop.
“Therefore taking extended holidays in term time is inappropriate.”