• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content

Home> News> Crime

Published 11:56 18 Aug 2023 GMT+1

Lawyer warns taking your child on holiday during school term time can lead to a prison sentence

Parents have been warned about taking their kids out of school to save money on holidays

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Featured Image Credit: TikTok/tiktokstreetlawyer/Pexels/Peter Steele

Topics: Parenting, Travel, UK News

Dominic Smithers
Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is the News/Agenda Desk Lead, covering the latest trends and breaking stories. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

X

@SmithersDom

Advert

Advert

Advert

While most parents will be hoping to get somewhere hot during the summer holidays, there may be a few who are planning on going away a little later, when it's a whole lot cheaper.

However, though it might be tempting to try and save a bit of money and miss out on the packed airports and traffic jams, it could land you in some deep trouble.

Nasir Hafezi is a legal trainer, ethics consultant and qualified solicitor.

Advert

And in a video posted to his TikTok account, he's urged parents to think again before taking their kids out of school for a holiday.

Responding to a question around whether mums and dads in England and Wales can be prosecuted for doing so, Mr Hafezi says: "Taking your child out of school during term time without prior authorisation from the school is a crime, and can in worst cases lead to a prison sentence.

Parents could end up in trouble if they take their kids out of school for a holiday.
Getty

"You have to get prior permission from the headteacher if you want to take your child out of school during term time."

Advert

He goes on to explain that this can only be done via an application for special circumstances, such as 'to attend a funeral for a close family bereavement'.

The solicitor adds that a class teacher has no say in the decision, and that permission can only be granted by the head of the school.

If parents don't follow the proper process, they could be found to have committed one of two offences, Mr Hafezi says.

The first is the 'failure to secure regular attendance'.

Advert

The maximum sentence for this is a £1,000 fine for each parent prosecuted as a result.

The second, and more serious, offence is whereby a parent knows that their child is failing to regularly attend school and does nothing to stop it.

"This offence is reserved for parents who are persistently failing to attend school, that is 'persistent truant'," Mr Hafezi explains.

Mr Hafezi has warned parents about taking their children on holiday without permission.
TikTok/tiktokstreetlawyer

Advert

The maximum offence for this is a £2,500 fine per parent prosecuted, and a a community order or prison sentence of up to three months.

However, this would only happen in very extreme circumstances, such as parents refusing to engage with support to find a solution, threatening the teachers at the school, or even encouraging the truancy.

It is much more likely that with minor breaches of the rules, parents will be hit with a £60 fine each.

If you do find yourself being taken to court, though, Mr Hafezi says there are a few defences you could use, such as having already obtained permission and demonstrating that your child regularly attends school. But it will be up to the court to decide.

Advert

So you have been warned.

  • Lawyer issues warning as British student, 23, jailed for life in Dubai after making 'very stupid mistake'
  • Mum left furious after school 'rats on her' for taking child on holiday during term-time
  • Travel expert warns parents not to say this one phrase to kids when taking them to Disneyland
  • Mum fears she'll be left with criminal record for taking two kids on holiday during school term time

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • CBC Toronto/ Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
    an hour ago

    British father speaks out after being falsely linked to killing of Charlie Kirk amid fake reports

    A father was caught in a horrifying case of mistaken identity following the death of Charlie Kirk

    News
  • Instagram/@meghan
    2 hours ago

    Meghan Markle's unexpected choice of image for Prince Harry's birthday causes major stir

    Prince Harry celebrates his 41st birthday today (Mon 15 Sept)

    News
  • Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Donald Trump just issued eerie threat to anyone 'celebrating' Charlie Kirk’s death

    Turning Point USA founder and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated last week in Utah

    News
  • Westchester County Police Department
    2 hours ago

    Police officer removed over ‘unacceptable’ Charlie Kirk social media posts

    An investigation has reportedly been launched into Tanisha Blanche - a school resource officer in a New York school district

    News