YEP Letters: May 26

Fines for pupils missing school during term time

It’s the same every year: you want to fly away with the kids to soak in a bit of sun but all the prices during half terms and school holidays are eye-watering.In a bid to stop parents from being tempted to take children out of school early the government introduced fines for parents for taking children away for unauthorised absences in 2013 which are levied by local authorities such as Leeds Council. Penalty fines are £120 per parent per child for each unauthorised period of absence if not paid within 22-28 days or £60 if paid within the timeframe. So a family of two parents and two children taking both children out for at least one unauthorised period of time would in theory pay £240 in fines in total if paid promptly and £480 if not. We asked YEP readers for their views and here’s what some of them said on social media..

Wayne Wilson

Taking your kids out of school for a holiday is educational. My daughter has learnt so much on holidays abroad and at home more than any school could ever teach her it only starts getting out of hand when people start abusing the system.

Joanne Hazelgrave

It’s the airlines that everyone should be angry with not schools and Leeds City Council.

The airlines are holding parents to ransom pushing prices to ridiculous amounts we should be on at that and not schools and Leeds City Council.

Trevor Ravenhill

can we fine teachers when they have a training day? Why can’t they have a training day during the holidays, not in school time?

Emily Draper

Training days are pre-arranged and are taken into account when planning the scheme of work. I think teachers work enough as it is, thank you!

Ann Patricia Brydson