How do school fines work for TWO weeks off in term time?

[floofydoofy]

How do the school fines work if you're away for say 2 weeks in term time?

We have family/very close friends who live abroad. DS1 hasn't visited since he was a baby in 2019 and DC2&3 have never been able to. Realistically it'll be at least a week off school, but probably more like 2 if we can't make it work to go around the May half term (which would be our preference - but DH's work can be tricky). I understand that a fine will be issued after 5 days/10 sessions which is absolutely fine, no worries about paying that - but my query is will a second fine be issued after a second week? So after 20 consecutive sessions missed? I'm worried about this as DS1 missed 7 sessions of school in late June as unauthorised when he travelled with me to visit my dad in hospital 450 miles away (DH was away with work), and then we were late twice in the last couple of weeks of term which I believe also count towards unauthorised absences (not sure if these will actually have been marked as 'L' or if DS snuck in quickly enough before the register but assuming they were marked as late)? Now I'm panicked that we'll be late once more, a fine will be triggered, and then it will all fall apart.

Basically, I don't actually mind paying the two lots of fines if that's what I have to do, but I REALLY don't want a third offence.

It is just for my eldest that I'm worried about as DC2&3 are under compulsory school age so we can't be fined for them anyway.

We cannot travel during the summer holidays or xmas as it is DH's busiest time for work. Easter may be a possibility but it is a VERY expensive time for flights there.

Apologies for how little that makes sense. My ACTUAL question is:

Would 20 sessions missed consecutively trigger one fine or two? Anyone have any experience with this?

Attendance lead here.

Your two week holiday will be one fine (per parent, per school-aged child).

The other unauthorised absences, since they aren't all holidays, would be a persistent absence penalty notice, if one was issued. This requires the school to have jumped through more hoops than a holiday fine. For example - have you been issued a Notice to Improve letter? If not then a PA fine cannot be issued. Even if you've had a N2I, school would need to show they've worked with you to reduce unauthorised absences. For example invite you to a meeting, discuss the barriers, set you targets for improvement.

In short, while I second fine could, theoretically be issued, i doubt it would be from what you describe.

That said - gently - it doesn't sound like you need to focus a bit more on reducing your child's unauthorised absences. Remember that the two-penalty-notice cap is within three years.

Thank you! That was all very helpful. My child is going into Y2, others are starting reception (but not CSA until Sept '27) and nursery - so only fines for eldest at the moment. The attendance/inclusion lead at our school is lovely and I know she would be very frank with me if I asked her, but I equally don't want her to judge me... hence asking here!

I appreciate what you're saying re the absences; I'm not normally someone who would do a term time holiday, we have been planning this one for years - it was originally supposed to be 2 years ago when DS1 was in reception but DH lost his job so we couldn't afford it. We typically can't afford more than camping/few days visiting family holidays regardless of term time or school hols so I'm not too worried. The visit up to see my dad was an emergency as he had a very serious accident while up in Scotland on holiday and I just whizzed up without thinking about it - thankfully he's now back home and recovering well but it was scary at first (I didn't request to be approved by school as didn't really think about it - should I have? I didn't think they'd approve it anyway so just informed them he wouldn't be there). We haven't had any letters from school about attendance - I think DS1's attendance was 96% this academic year which obviously isn't brilliant but he did have chicken pox and then HFM back to back in the winter term!

I’d also have a conversation with school. We missed for holiday twice, so did my friend at another school, and we weren’t find. I think it depends on who runs the school and what their policy is. A secondary I was in would pursue it.

It would be classed as one occasion so in theory one fine BUT they dont have to offer a fine, it they think its persistent absence they can go straight to court / prosecution so on that basis id make sure you give them a really good reason for travel. Also remember the second fine doesn’t have the option to pay early so would be £160 not £80.

There was a thread in here a while ago where a family took their kids out for 3 weeks and the LA prosecuted them. It was their 'first offence'. However the absences are in a rolling 10 week period, so your time in June will not be counted soon.

Going straight to prosecution would be unlikely to happen in my LA (Lincolnshire).

A (secondary*) student would need Year-to-Date attendance below 50% (or under 70% ish with with no recent improvements) to go straight to prosecution.

The most usual reason to jump to prosecution is if the first penalty notice was unpaid. I mention this because i wish more parents understood the bigger shit they get themselves into when they don't pay fines. Just pay the £80/160 - it's much better than going to court

• I caveat that with the fact that I am secondary. I think primaries, especially KS1, are much more lenient. My school would never not fine for a holiday. Primaries often want to find a reason not to fine.

The school don’t issue the fines; the local authority does.

Why can't your very special friends who your child needs to see travel to see you ?

Because it is not so easy for people from many countries to travel to the UK as it is for British passport holders to travel internationally. Equally, it is fucking expensive.

Yes very unlikely but possible. I have seen on forums that it has happened to people and would hate for OP not to know it is at least a risk, even if a small one.

Thank you for letting me know, I appreciate the heads up. I wish they would make these things more consistent and clearer for parents making these choices.