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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think laws that fine and jail parents for school absence, outside term time holidays, are ridiculous?

105 replies

TwinklyTaupePanda · 25/08/2026 08:18

Is it a good law, fining parents for school absence? What are the good outcome measures, good citizens, with better mental health, peaceful country, reduced crime rates, homicide rates? Has it worked in your country?

Or is it a ridiculous law? Most parents, dream of and love to, have children who enjoy, thrive and excel in school. Parents may have other misdemeanours, but why turn school attendance into the battle ground, the yard stick to measure and punish? Perhaps consider is punishment the right way to go about this, what about the help for every child, and every parent who struggles?

I'm not talking about going on holiday during term time.

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 25/08/2026 08:25

SummerHols2026 · 25/08/2026 08:22

YABU. Attendance is one of the top 3 indicators of a child’s academic success. There’s an attendance crisis in education since Covid. They need to do something and yes, if you take your DC out for 2 weeks you’ll be fined but this isn’t really aimed at those families. It’s really to target the persistent offenders whose children regularly miss periods of school.

I don't understand - the rules have been in place since long before covid, haven't they? If they worked surely there wouldn't be an attendance crisis?

Thingsthatgo · 25/08/2026 08:23

I agree with you to an extent. I think parents of children who can’t go to school for medical or mental health reasons, but are communicating with the school and intend to go back to school whenever possible, should not be fined. I think parents who can’t be bothered should be sanctioned.

Serenity75 · 25/08/2026 08:23

I think it’s probably a reasonable system. There needs to be some disincentive to stop everyone from taking time out during the school term. And then it’s just a maths thing, do I save enough to cover the cost of the fine if I’m going to get one. We’ve found a compromise that if you take them out a couple of days before the end of term, they don’t miss anything and we can save 25-20% of the cost of the trip (and at half term you have the benefit of being able to chill out at home for a couple of days before the start of the new half term).

SummerHols2026 · 25/08/2026 08:22

YABU. Attendance is one of the top 3 indicators of a child’s academic success. There’s an attendance crisis in education since Covid. They need to do something and yes, if you take your DC out for 2 weeks you’ll be fined but this isn’t really aimed at those families. It’s really to target the persistent offenders whose children regularly miss periods of school.

Foxyloxy89 · 25/08/2026 08:20

I don't understand how to vote, please can you explain which is which?

For what it's worth, I'm a teacher (and a parent) and think it's a terrible system!