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Original poster

Is it discriminatory to issue penalty notices for term time absence to both parents?

80 replies

minisale · 05/07/2013 13:28

Our LEA has a policy of issuing a fine to each parent for each child if you take them out of school for 5 consecutive days. So a two parent family will receive four penalty notices of £50 each while a single parent family will receive just two for the same act. The impact of taking the two children out of school is exactly the same. Is this discriminating against two parent families and therefore is it illegal for the County Council to implement this policy? Ideas, knowledge, experiences and views gratefully received.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 05/07/2013 17:59

timidviper - No there would not be 4 fines. Only parents can be fined.

The parent is committing the offence of failing to secure their child's attendance at the school. Both parents are guilty of that offence if the child is not attending. Why shouldn't they both be fined?

flowery · 05/07/2013 16:34

Why wouldn't they fine both parents just because they aren't in a relationship?

timidviper · 05/07/2013 15:38

I think it may not be illegal but it is unfair.

School trips and other expenses are charged per child, imagine the outcry if children in a 2 parent family were charged double for a school trip. What about children who split their time between 2 parents who are both in new relationships do they get 4 fines? What a nonsensical policy!

The impact of the absence is the same regardless of the number of parents living at the home so I think the fine should be per child.

prh47bridge · 05/07/2013 15:33

The law says they can do this. It is not illegal.

TobyLerone · 05/07/2013 13:34

I can't see how it's discriminatory Confused

In both cases, each parent effectively gets two fines.

I would be incredibly pissed off, however, if my DCs' father decided to take them on holiday during term time and I got a fine for it. Not that that would happen, because I obviously wouldn't agree to it, but theoretically it could.

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