Overview

• Over 443,000 fixed-penalty notices were issued in the 2023/24 academic year as local councils ramped up enforcement
• Parents face a maximum of two fixed-penalty notices for the same child within a three-year period before legal action is triggered
• Headteachers may grant term-time leave only for exceptional circumstances and some schools do not break up until late July, increasing the risk of unauthorised absences
• Each parent faces an £80 fine per child if settled within 21 days, rising to £160 if unpaid after 28 days
• Councils can pursue prosecution for unpaid or repeat offences, with potential penalties including up to £2,500 in fines, community orders or a three-month jail sentence