Number of Wiltshire parents fined for taking kids out of school for holiday reaches record high
Almost 3,000 fines were handed out to parents in Wiltshire in the last academic year
The number of Wiltshire parents receiving fines for taking their children out of school for unauthorised holidays has hit a record high.
Department for Education figures released this week show that 2,833 parents received Penalty Notices for “unauthorised family holiday absence” in the academic year 2024/5.
The number is up on the previous three years. In 2023/4 2,801 parents were penalised. In 2,403 the figure stood at 2,403. And in 2022/3 1,388 received a fine.
In the most recent year, 32 of those penalty notices were for ‘repeat offences’ – children taken out of school for unauthorised holidays for the second time in three years.
A total of 1,378 penalty notices were paid in 21 days – when the fine is £80 – and a further 14 were settled before 28 days, when the fine doubles to £160.
Forty-one penalty notices were subsequently withdrawn, while 74 were prosecuted for non-payment.
Holidays made up the bulk of the 2,901 penalty notices issued for unauthorised absence.
During the school year there were 61,973 children enrolled at Wiltshire schools.
Wiltshire Council said the rising numbers could be due, in part, to new government rules telling schools and local authorities how to manage school attendance.
Cllr Jon Hubbard, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills, said: “Penalty notices for unauthorised absences are issued by Wiltshire Council following notification from schools, in line with the county’s Penalty Notice Code of Conduct.
“Wiltshire has seen an increase in penalty notices issued for term-time leave, reflecting the national picture.
“Where there is an unauthorised absence from school that is not related to a leave of absence in term time, such as a holiday, Wiltshire Council and schools work closely with families to overcome barriers to attendance before any legal intervention is considered.”
He stressed: “Regular school attendance is important for children to achieve their full potential. Absence can disrupt learning and create gaps that can be difficult to close.”