Herts County Council fines parents £145,360 as tougher school absence rules hit term-time holidays
The number of fines issued to Hertfordshire parents for taking their children out of school to go on holiday has more than doubled.
Previously, parents could expect to receive a fixed penalty notice from the county council if their youngsters were absent from school for 15 half-day sessions or more in 12 months.
But since August, following a change in national guidelines, schools have been required to consider a fine if a child misses 10 or more half-day sessions for unauthorised reasons.
The change means parents can no longer take their children out of school for a week-long, term-time holiday, which was previously allowed without the risk of a fine.
In the 2023-24 academic year, from September 1 to March 25, Hertfordshire County Council issued 701 fines for unauthorised absence. During the same period this year (2024-25), they issued 1,817 fines – a rise of 159% – and 1,788 of these were for unauthorised term-time holidays.
In a statement, the council said: “Making sure all children access the full-time education to which they are entitled remains a top priority for us. We are sure that the parents of Hertfordshire want the best education for their children.
“By taking family holidays during the school holiday periods, the parents of Hertfordshire will be supporting their children’s full school attendance, learning and development.”
In a further change associated with the new guidelines, the fine for a first offence is now £80 per parent per child – £20 higher than in the 2023-24 academic year.
For those found to have breached attendance rules for a second time in three years, the fine increases to £160 per parent per child.
According to the county council, so far this academic year the value of fines issued is £145,360 – more than treble the £42,060 imposed in 2023-24.
The payments go directly to the county council. According to Government guidance, all revenue should be ring-fenced for administration of the penalty notice scheme, prosecution and attendance support.
