Record 350,000 parents in England fined over term-time holidays with children

Figure equates to a fine for one in every 20 pupils aged between five and 16 at state schools for unauthorised absences. Photograph: Dan Peled/AAP

A record 350,000 parents in England were fined for taking their children out of school on unauthorised holidays last year, figures show, highlighting the struggle over attendance facing headteachers since the Covid crisis.

The statistics from the Department for Education (DfE) reveal that holidays accounted for almost 90% of the 399,000 cases of parents being given a penalty notice by local authorities for their children’s unauthorised school absences.