Supreme Court: Parents CAN'T take kids on term-time holiday without risking a fine

Former_MSE_Faye

Justices ruled against Jon Platt, a father who'd refused to pay a fine for taking his daughter out of school...

Read the full story:
'Supreme Court: Parents CAN'T take kids on term-time holiday without risking a fine'

Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. If you aren’t sure how it all works, read our New to Forum? Intro Guide.

VT82

The law on this has been screwed up ever since the figure of '£60' appeared out of thin air. This turned what was a moral decision for parents into a straightforward financial one, and was such a ball drop by the government who are so obsessed with putting figures on things. I'm just surprised they didn't link the fine to inflation for a change!!!

Guest101

Could be a vote winner for the opposition....


(it's a shame MSE didn't link the actual case notes)

Browntoa

The guy didn't go himself any favours in interviews , claim over as slightly arrogant in my eyes

At least the laws clear now on both sides

As someone who likes quieter flights and hotels I deliberately holiday during term time rather than late June to early September.

gabriel1980

I wouldn't have paid the fine either, I honestly don't think the school should have the right to issue a fine.

thorsoak

So, what about the youth workers and school holiday club workers who are contracted to work through school holidays - when are they supposed to take their children on holiday?

jamesd

Best to solve this by widely varying the school holidays between regions so that there is no financial incentive in the holiday prices because there is no significant crowding.

Pity also the poor parents who are subject to criminal prosecution if their child is absent from school on a day that is a mandatory religious holiday for the religion of the child and not one of the parents.

MABLE

Too right. Can you imagine what would happen if the Supreme court had upheld the original decision. Holidays companies would capitalise on this and as a result they would increase their holidays.

LKRDN_Morgan

Oh well. Still cheaper to take the fine than pay for the same holiday outside of term time.

worldtraveller

Clearly it was the correct ruling.

harz99

IMHO you have to be very foolish not to just pay the £60 per child/occasion and just get on with your life if you wish to take the child out of school during term time.


As others have said, it's very little compared to the additional cost during school holiday periods.


As long as the head-teachers retain and use flexibility regarding the very, very, few people whose jobs don't allow them to organise and take family holidays within the school holiday periods I don't see the problem, and the matter is certainly not worth dragging through the courts any further.