While he's under 5, he can't be fined anyway so don't worry. But fir the benefit of the future, soyou understand the rules:
The fines are per parent, per child. A "parent" in educational law doesn't just include birth patents. It could also include step parents and anyone else who has a caring responsibility to the child. It wouldn't be unusual to issue four fines for one child - say mum, stepdad, dad, stepmum. Or if grandparent is resident and takes a parental type caring role, maybe alongside a patent, they could get a fine as a "parent".
A change by the DfE in August 2024 bought a national change in the issuing of non attendance fines. All local authorities now follow the same guidelines - it is 10 sessions (which is 5 days) of unauthorised absence in 10 weeks.
● The first fine is £160 if paid within 28 days, £80 if paid within 21 days.
● The second fine in 3 years is £160 if paid within 28 days, no option to halve.
● With both these, if not paid by 28 days it goes to court and a jusge decides the amount to be paid. It is up to £1000, but each case is looked at individually.
● Third and subsequent fines in 3 years go directly to prosecution to be heard by a magistrate. Fines are issued on a case by case basis up to £2500.
● If the magistrate fine isn't paid and/or the child gets more magistrate fines, there is a reasonable chance the outcome could be a custodial sentence for the parent.
Attached poster explains the basics well.
So say he was already 5, and I asked the school to authorise a 2 week holiday - if they authorise it, do I still get a fine? In general, are requests not authorised?
Parents can ask for consideration for it to be authorised, with reasons. Schools are told not to authorise holidays, in general, so the request will be scrutinised. If authorised, you can't be fined for it.
it's partially to attend a wedding abroad too
Just saying it's for a wedding would not get it authorised at my school. I'd look at the context, and proof (I'd want proof of the wedding date). If I can see the parents have made an effort to prioritise school within the context of a close family wedding - say its grandparent's wedding, child is bridesmaid, travelling Friday, wedding Saturday, back at school Monday - I'd be inclined to authorise the Friday. I may even additionally authorise Monday if I see late Sunday flights and and the parents say they'll try to get DC into school Monday but aren't sure how tired they'll be.
But if its second cousin, or Aunty who lives in East Aisa and they don't really know or see her much (I will ask the child about the trip), then I wouldn't authorise any. A 2 week holiday with a wedding while there isn't likely to get 2 weeks authorised from me. Depending on the person getting married and relevance of a child there, I may authorise 1 day of the holiday, the rest unauthorised.
Speaking personally, not professionally, if this is a one-off holiday, just plan for £80 per parent fine within your budget and don't sweat it, just go. Make sure you don't make a habit of it though, so no further term time holidays, definitely not within 3 years.
If we then returned from holiday and say he caught flu and was off school for 2 weeks ill, would that mean a fine?
This is done on a case by case basis. On a basic level no, illnesses are authorised so therefore will not be fined.
However, if a child's overall attendance drops to be very low, or if I look at the child's attendance last year and see its been historically low, schools can say they won't authorise any illness absences without medical evidence - this could be evidence of a GP appointment, evidence of a prescription or similar. So the 2 weeks ill could be unauthorised if the only reason the child is off is parents say-so. I should add that parent-authorised illness is acceptable generally, its only in a small proportion of cases when the decision is made to not allow this.
With non-holiday, persistent absences, so absences that are unauthorised because parent doesn't contact school, or does contact but school decide not to authorise the absence, the school will have to evidence how they support you to improve your child's attendance, before a fine can be issued.
In this case, expect phone calls home, texts, home visits and probably an invitation for an attendance meeting. You might be asked to enter into an attendance contract, where school, you and the child agree actions to improve attendance. You'd only be fined if this support is put in place and the child still has lots of time off.
Remember, the persistant absence fines (as opposed to holiday fines) aren't for child with otherwise good attendance who, say, get chicken pox, or break their arm, or have some other significant illness. It's for children who, for example, seem to have "been sick" one day every single week, plus maybe they have a week off for "flu like symptoms", followed by 3 days for "a temperature", followed by 4 days off for a holiday, then some "refusing to get out of bed" or similar. These are the families attendance leads are trying to change. If you generally do value school and understand the importance of going to school every day and not having time off at the drop of a hat, you'll be fine. You may occasionally get a call from the attendance team, or a home visit, or asked in for a meeting. But assuming you continue to show you do prioritise the importance of good attendance at school, then these shouldn't result in a fine.