I picked the kids up from school for a holiday in Benidorm… I don’t care how much the fine is
A SINGLE mother insisted she doesn’t care how much of a fine she gets after taking her children out of school for a holiday in Benidorm.
Leanne Bray from Solihull, West Midlands, went on the banned school trip because she has the ‘right’ to best meet the needs of her children.
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The mother of five is no stranger to punishment and was taken to court in February after refusing to pay a fine she was given last year when she travelled to Lanzarote with her family.
Leanne said Birmingham Live: “I don’t think it’s right.
“All my children have additional needs and it is important for us to spend time as a family at a time of the year that suits us – when it is less busy. I don’t think the government is taking into account the needs of the population.”
The determined mother said flying at the busiest time of year is “really challenging” for her children, who are having “meltdowns” because of the crowds.
Her four youngest children are now being homeschooled after her primary school rejected Leanne’s holiday request.
But Leanne left, despite the cost, claiming it was less money than she saved by leaving during school.
She added: “I don’t think these new fines will make much difference. People will pay them anyway because the cost of a holiday during school time is much lower than during the summer holidays.
“I am going to challenge my fine because I believe that as a family we have rights and needs and as a single parent of five children I am entitled to an exemption.”
The single mother of five told her family that she learns by experiencing different cultures and learning new languages through travel.
She insisted that her children “learn more with their hands than when they were in a classroom.”
This comes after the government increased the fine for unauthorised holidays from £60 to £80 per child.
And both parents may have to pay the hefty fine.
The costs will be doubled if the caregiver decides to allow the children to be absent without permission again within three years.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said parents could be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500 after three fines.
But Sun Online Travel previously revealed that flight prices could rise by as much as £400 during the school holidays.
What is the law about sending children to school?
According to Gov.ukyou must ensure that your child receives full-time education that meets his/her needs (for example, if he/she has special educational needs).
You can send your child to school or provide education yourself.
Children must attend school from the school year after their 5th birthday until the last Friday in June of the school year in which they turn 16.
You will be contacted by:
- the school – if your child is registered at school and does not show up (even if only absent for one day)
- the education officer of the municipality – if they think that your child is not receiving appropriate education at home
You can be prosecuted if you do not provide your child with an education.
Normally you will first receive a warning and an offer of assistance from the local government.
And in previous years, holidays during the autumn break were up to nine times more expensive.
A father has slammed his children’s school after he was fined £480 for taking his children on holiday during school hours.
Paul Benson and his wife Jessica were sentenced after taking their children Ruby and George to Florida.
Meanwhile, one mother saved almost £10,000 by taking her children to school during school hours – and she’s doing it again this year.
Rachel Smith, 33, takes her two children Brayden, 11, and Elianna, 9, abroad every year during term time.
Parents who were fined a staggering £720 for taking their children on holiday say they have no regrets.
Wesley Joyce, 42, from Worcester, took his children Jai-Jai, Cleo and Hallie on a ten-day, all-inclusive trip to Turkey during their school years and paid the price.
What school fines can parents receive?
The main issue that can get parents fined is truancy.
Currently, the local council decides whether a parent will be fined if their child misses school.
However, from August this year, the school will be responsible for determining the fine for absence when a child has missed 10 or more lessons for unauthorized reasons.
The fine is £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. This fine applies to EVERY parent.
It is the first time since 2012 that the fine has been increased, and this is in line with inflation.
If a parent receives a second fine for the same child within three years, they will automatically be charged the higher rate of £160.
The maximum number of fines is two within a three-year period.
If this limit is reached, prosecution or a parenting order may be considered.
According to the official government website, There are only five reasons why your child should be absent from school when school is in session.
These are as follows:
- Your child is too sick to come that day
- You have requested and received prior permission from the school to allow your child to be absent that day due to exceptional circumstances.
- Your child cannot go to school that day because it is a day on which you participate in religious practices.
- Your municipality is responsible for arranging your child’s transport to school and transport is not available on that day or has not yet been provided.
- You are a Gypsy/Travelling family of no fixed abode and you have to travel for work that day, which means your child cannot attend their usual school
