Leicester parents hit by hundred of thousands of pounds in fines for pupil absences this year

Leicester parents have been issued more than £600,000 worth of fines this academic year for pupil absences. The figure is a huge jump from five years ago, when those fines cost families £192,300.

The penalties are issued for “unauthorised” absences from schools. If a child does not attend class for five or more days, councils can issue a £60 fine. That charge rises to £120 if it is not paid within 21 days.

Costs to parents for allowing their child to take time off are set to rise for the next academic year — starting at £80 and rising to £160 if not paid promptly. Leicester City Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it is “unfortunately” seeing a “steep increase” in the number of fines it has to issue.

A spokesperson for the council said this was possibly a continued fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw families unable to go on holiday during the lockdowns. He added parents now seem to be “opting to take longer holidays during term.”

One campaigner for a group called Parents Against Fines said: “We really need to make ourselves heard. Petitions, emailing our MPs or the department of education is getting us nowhere. We’re being ignored because this law doesn’t affect our politicians, their kids go to private schools where the law doesn’t apply. They have unlimited finances to afford a holiday anytime of the year. Just like when they had all these Covid-19 rules, and they were having parties without wearing any PPE or going out and having affairs whilst we were told to not hug our parents or friends, or we will get fined.”

Children in Wales are allowed up to 10 days per school year for respite, holidays, and seeing sick relatives, while fines are prevalent in England unless prior approval is sought from the school.

The council's spokesperson told the LDRS the authority issued 8,200 penalties over the 2023-24 academic year, totalling £614,760. This is up from 6,011 last academic year, which cost parents £427,500.

Between 2021-22, there were 3,403 penalties issued, resulting in a cost of £237,480. Fines were substantially lower between 2020-21, likely due to the coronavirus lockdowns, which meant schools closed for long periods, with children learning online instead.

That year, just 730 were issued at a charge of £55,860. Between 2019-20, the council sent out 2,680 penalties, costing £192,300.

The council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, and like many other cities, we are seeing a steep increase in the number of penalties issued for unauthorised absence from school. The impact of Covid-19, and the extended restrictions we saw in Leicester, meant that many families had to delay holidays. We are now seeing more families opting to take longer holidays during term and, of course, this impacts on children’s attendance.

“Our education welfare team works closely with schools to help ensure that parents are aware of the importance of good school attendance for all children and young people, and the positive impact this has on school performance and wellbeing.

“Schools have worked hard to encourage good attendance and understand the challenges facing families, but due to a rise in persistent absence and continuation of children being taken out of school in term time, they are left with no option other than to take action in the form of penalty notices.”