Hannah Davison, a mother of four from Flamborough, says she has no regrets about taking her children out of school for holidays, despite facing nearly £1,000 in fines. She was fined £480 last year and expects this year's penalty to at least double. She fears the family could end up in court in 2027 if they take another September break next year.
Mrs Davison, who runs the Boathouse at North Landing, a takeaway café in a former lifeboat house in Flamborough, says the rising fines and tough penalties show a failing system that punishes hard-working parents. She is calling on policymakers to consider alternatives, such as an allowance of authorised holiday days for children with good attendance.
A juggling act on the Yorkshire Coast
The Boathouse is a family affair for the Davisons. Hannah manages the business while balancing childcare alongside her husband's demanding career as a fisherman on the Yorkshire Coast. She admitted to already harbouring feelings of guilt, as her children's summer holidays are frequently disrupted by the pressures of running the business and keeping up with the bills.
"My kids spend all the summer holiday with grandparents, friends, or just being with me while I work at the Boathouse. They never get to lay-in, they are up at the crack of dawn everyday during the summer and are dragged pillar to post. So it is really important for us that we can have that time together as a family to chill out and not be in a rush for once," she explained.
"Despite the fine, I've definitely got no regrets. It's just that excitement of the kids bundling onto the plane - you think 'wow, we've made it'. And we always go right at the start of term, when the kids are just settling in at school so in my opinion they are not missing anything important. We would obviously not take them out of school when they are bigger and studying for exams."
Call for policy rethink
Mrs Davison, who has operated the Boathouse at North Landing for over five years, is calling on policymakers at both regional and national level to reconsider the regulations surrounding parents who wish to take their children on holiday during term time. She said: "If your kids have good attendance and are doing well at school, then perhaps you should be given an allocation of five or ten days each school year to take your children away from school? Travel can broaden your mind, your children are learning about language, new cultures and trying different food. It's so important."
The family, including children aged 2, 6, 7 and 10, were handed a fine of £480 in 2025. This year Mrs Davison is anticipating the penalty to at least double, and she fears a court appearance in 2027 should the family take another September break the following year.
Cost of living pressures
"With the cost of things going up so much though, I think I would do it again. It's our one holiday every year, it is a real treat. I'll always stand by the importance of our family time together, no parent would disagree with that, surely?" she said.
Mrs Davison has written to Charlie Dewhirst, the Conservative MP for Bridlington and The Wolds. She is additionally appealing to East Riding Council to revise their stance and adopt a more lenient approach towards working families, particularly those employed within the region's crucial tourist industry.
An East Riding Council spokesperson was unable to comment on this particular case but emphasised that strong school attendance was crucial for children's education and social development, clarifying that the authority works alongside families to enhance attendance throughout the year. She said: "Penalty notice fines are issued if a pupil misses ten consecutive sessions for the purpose of a holiday. Schools and the local authority work with families to improve school attendance and ensure children get the most from their education journey."
Mrs Davison hails from Flamborough, where she was born and raised. Her business boasts an unparalleled view of the stunning coastline, and she frequently spots her father, a hardworking fisherman, operating in the North Sea. He delivers freshly caught seafood that features in the North Landing Boathouse's imaginative and diverse menu. The establishment offers Yorkshire lobster dishes, locally caught crab and fresh chips, burgers, burritos and more.
Mrs Davison previously resided in Australia and worked as an account manager in Scarborough before establishing her small business dream during the covid lockdowns. She is certain the break, departing from Manchester to Greece, was the correct choice for the family's wellbeing and remarked: "It's not like we do it regularly."
The determined businesswoman continued: "The kids had an amazing time on the holiday and we created memories together that we will talk about for years to come. When we sat on the plane, we saw our two-year-old Tommy being so excited with a huge smile on his face - it was all worth it. The chaos of life can be so much, this was just a chance for kids to experience things slowing down and just being with us as a family again."
