Parents in England are being warned they could face fines of up to £640 for taking children out of school for unauthorised term-time holidays, following changes to attendance rules that came into force in August 2024. Under the new national framework, each parent can be fined £160 per child, meaning two parents taking two children on holiday could face a combined penalty of £640 if the fine is not paid within 28 days.
The rules, updated for the 2024/25 academic year, standardise how councils handle unauthorised absences across England. Previously, local authorities set their own thresholds, but now all schools must consider a fine if a child misses 10 sessions (equivalent to five school days) within a rolling 10-week period. The fines increased for the first time since 2012, rising from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days, and doubling to £160 if unpaid after 28 days.
Department for Education figures show that more than 459,000 fines were issued for unauthorised term-time holidays during the 2024/25 academic year, accounting for the majority of attendance penalties. Lindsey Wright, a physics and maths tutor at TutorsValley, said many families are unaware of how quickly penalties can escalate. “A lot of parents still think school fines are relatively small because they remember the old system. But once the higher charges kick in, it can become a very expensive situation surprisingly quickly,” she explained.
Wright noted that parents are often caught between attendance policies and soaring travel costs during school breaks. “Most parents aren’t trying to break rules. They’re usually trying to work out what’s realistically affordable for their family while avoiding unexpected costs later on,” she said. The warning comes as families begin booking summer trips, with many facing a stark difference between peak and off-peak holiday prices.
Under the current guidance, penalty notices are issued to each parent or carer individually. For example, a family with two parents and two children taking an unauthorised term-time holiday would face an initial combined fine of £320 if paid within 21 days, rising to £640 if paid later. The government advises that councils across England can issue these penalties for unauthorised absences, including term-time holidays that have not been approved by schools.
