Parents warned term-time holidays could lead to higher fines

An attendance crackdown in England begins in September, and parents in England could face an initial penalty of £80 per child, per parent for unauthorised absences, rising to £160 if not paid promptly.

Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com, said: “For some families, taking some extra holiday days during term-time can seem appealing, with rates often being cheaper outside peak school holiday periods."

“Our research found that parents or guardians say they saved £567 on average when taking trips during term time."

“But it doesn't come without financial consequences, with UK parents issued £41 million in fines for term-time holidays between 2022 and 2024.”

From September, every mainstream state school in England will be given its own target to improve pupil attendance as part of a wider government crackdown on absence.

This likely means absences are tracked more closely, and term-time trips are more likely to be flagged.

If term-time travel becomes a regular occurrence, councils can also take legal action, with court fines of up to £2,500.

Confused.com has launched a school fines calculator to help parents understand potential costs and local authority rules before booking.