'We save hundreds on term-time holidays despite fines'

A mum-of-two has said she will continue to take her daughters out of school during term-time, despite being fined, because the money her family can save makes it "an absolute no-brainer".

The north-west of England has the highest number of issued fines for families taking children out of school on unauthorised holidays in the academic year, with 83,807 in the 2024-25 year, more than any other region.

Laura Melling, from Leyland, Lancashire, chose a family holiday to Lapland this month because the family paid £40 per person for the flights instead of the £700 each it would have cost in December.

"They're only young once, let them live the experiences," she said.

But the government said children needed to attend school regularly to give them "the best start in life".

Laura said she would "100%" continue to take her children on holiday in term-time "while they are still young".

"To me as long as they are not missing any of their SATs [Standard Assessment Tests], I don't see the issue," she told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's a week, it's not like we're taking them out for a year."

She said she had "a really good rapport" with the primary school her children, aged seven and eight, attend.

"I go in and I'm really honest about holidays, I don't say my kids are ill or anything like that, I'll tell them what's happening.

"They completely understand it," she said.

"I'll ask if they want us to do any work and nine times out of 10 they say no.

"Kids learn in all these experiences that we're taking them on, we haven't come away and sat by a pool."

Two years ago she was fined £240 when the family went on holiday to Egypt, but she has no regrets.

"We showed them Egypt, " she said. "We went out and did the excursions so they learned while we were there.

"If people are home-schooling, they take them for days out and the kids are learning."

The minimum fines, imposed by local authorities for removing children without permission for five school days, is £80 per child.

Lancashire County Council, which issued the fines to Laura, said: "Evidence shows that attainment is linked to attendance, so supporting our schools with this issue is important.

"We always encourage schools to work closely with parents to reduce unauthorised absences and our aim is to ensure that children and young people attend school and receive a good education."

Lisa Banks, head teacher of Daisyfield Primary School in Blackburn, said she was sympathetic with families choosing a cheaper time to go on holiday.

"It's really difficult because I understand from a parental point of view that the prices of holidays are absolutely astronomical," she said.

"If you can get a cheap deal, you'd rather face an £80 per parent per child fine which is still saving you a lot of money."

A record 459,288 school holiday fines were issued in England last year, according to new figures from the Department for Education.

A government spokesman said: "We are determined to give children growing up in our country the best start in life, but that can only happen if children regularly attend school.

"Term-time holidays place the burden on teachers to support miss-learning, affecting the entire class, that's why fines have a vital place in our system, so everyone is held accountable for ensuring our children are in school.

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