Can you take your children on holiday during term time and what’s the fine if they miss school?

WE ALL know that taking your kids on holiday out of term time is expensive.

So parents may be tempted to take them during school time - but can you be fined for doing so?

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Is it legal to take your children on holiday during term time?

There has been a huge rise in staycations as travel prices increase.

But even holidays in the UK are costing more especially during school breaks, leading many parents tempted to take their children out of school to benefit from cheaper deals that can be found by holidaying during term time.

However, by doing so, parents run the risk of heavy fines and potentially even imprisonment.

According to a BBC report, during the 2017/2018 academic year, Local Education Authorities in England issued almost 223,000 fines for children being taken out of school for term-time breaks – a rise of 93% on the previous year.

Once your child is registered at a school, the law says you must send them to school every day and on time.

The law changed in September 2013 and schools no longer have the freedom to allow parents to take their children out of school for up to ten days in term time.

Only in exceptional circumstances can you write to the headteacher and ask to take your child out of school.

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The head will consider any application carefully and look at the reasons why you need to take your child out of school, the effect on your child's education, the number of days your child will be away, your child’s attendance record.

Then the head will tell you when your child must be back in school.

Previously heads could grant 10 days of authorised absence but they are now unable to grant any at all.

It has been revealed that almost 20,000 people were taken to court in 2015 after their children missed school without permission – an increase of more than a fifth.

So what happens if you flout the rules?

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How much is the fine if you take your kids out of school during term time?

Parents who take their kids out of school will be slapped with a £60 fine for each parent which rises to £120 if it's not paid within 21 days.

If you don’t pay within 28 days, you will be taken to court.

Figures have revealed 50,414 fines were issued to parents between 2014 and 2015.

In the worst case scenario you could be prosecuted and slapped with a £2,500, get a community order and jailed for three months.

But, according to a BBC investigation, some councils are issuing penalties at rates five times higher than average - with parents across England and Wales being fined approximately £24million over the past three years.

In January 2017, a school in Essex threatened to fine parents £120 if their kids were to arrive after 9am - with the fine doubling if it wasn't paid within 21 days.

But not all head teachers feel that way, one mum reported that her children's headteacher praised the mum for taking her children on holiday during term time.