459,000 fines have been issued, some to parents trying to get 'cheaper' breaks outside of the school holidaysNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)08:29, 03 Jun 2026Parents planning to take children out of school early for summer holidays are being warned they could face fines of up to £160 per child under current attendance rules in England. With many families already looking ahead to soaring summer travel costs, experts say some parents may not realise how much school holiday penalties have increased in recent years.‌The rules were changed for the last school year meaning each parent can now be fined £160 per child. So two parents taking two children out of school for a holiday could face a family fine of £640 - £160 per parent, per child.‌Under current guidance, parents can be fined £80 per child for unauthorised absences if paid within 21 days. That rises to £160 if unpaid after 28 days. Latest Department for Education figures show more than 459,000 fines were issued for unauthorised term-time holidays during the 2024/25 academic year, making up the vast majority of attendance penalties handed out by councils.‌Lindsey Wright, physics and maths tutor at TutorsValley, says many families are feeling squeezed by the huge difference between peak and off-peak travel prices.She explained: “A lot of parents understand the attendance rules, but they’re also seeing holiday prices jump massively during official school breaks.”‌The warning comes as online discussions around school holiday fines continue to divide opinion among parents trying to balance family budgets with attendance policies. But Lindsey says many people are still unaware of how quickly the penalties can increase.“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.”According to government guidance, councils across England can issue penalty notices for unauthorised absences, including term-time holidays that haven’t been approved by schools. Lindsey believes clearer awareness around the current rules is important as families begin booking summer trips, adding: “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.‌“That’s why it’s important people understand exactly what the fines are before making any decisions.”Key school holiday fine facts for parents‌Parents can currently be fined £80 per child for unauthorised absences.Fines rise to £160 if unpaid within 28 days.More than 459,000 fines for unauthorised school holidays were issued during the latest academic year in England.School holiday absences account for the majority of attendance penalties issued by councils.The rules and fines for taking children out of school for unauthorised term-time holidays in England changed on 19 August 2024, ahead of the 2024/2025 school year. This update introduced a new National Framework for Penalty Notices to standardise how councils handle absences across the country.The key changes include:‌1. Increased Fine AmountsThe cost of the fines increased for the first time since 2012 to account for inflation:First Offence: The fine is £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days. If it is not paid within 21 days, it doubles to £160 (to be paid within 28 days).Second Offence: If a parent is fined a second time for the same child within a rolling 3-year period, the fine is automatically charged at the higher rate of £160 per parent, per child, with no option for a discounted early payment.Third Offence: Fines are capped at two within a 3-year period. If a child has a third unauthorised absence, a penalty notice will generally not be issued; instead, the case may be taken straight to the Magistrates' Court, where fines can reach up to £2,500 per parent.2. The "5-Day" Trigger ThresholdPreviously, individual local councils decided their own thresholds for issuing fines. Under the current national framework, all schools in England must consider a fine if a child misses 10 sessions (equivalent to 5 school days) due to unauthorised absence within a rolling 10-week period. These 5 days can be a consecutive block (such as a week-long holiday) or split up over the 10 weeks.Article continues below3. Fines Apply to Both ParentsFines are issued to each parent or carer individually. For example, under the new rates, 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.