Overview

• MPs will debate a proposal to exempt parents from fines for up to 10 days of term-time absences after a petition gained 181,000 signatures.
• Current fines start at £80 and rise to £160 if not paid within 21 days, with councils issuing over 443,000 penalties in the 2023/24 school year.
• Data from Fight School Fines shows average package holiday prices surge by 18% during school breaks, making peak-time trips unaffordable for many families.
• Headteachers can authorise term-time absences in exceptional circumstances such as serious illness, bereavement, or armed forces deployment.
• The government insists the school calendar allows sufficient holiday time outside term and emphasizes its commitment to protecting children’s education.