Term-time holiday fines plan sparks row
Nation.Cymru staff
Parents have been told fixed penalty notices for unauthorised term-time holidays will be introduced from September, prompting claims the move has been made without public debate or formal approval.
A letter sent to families by Monmouthshire County Council’s Strategic Director for Children, Learning, Skills and Economy, Will McLean, says the authority is “preparing for the introduction” of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for unauthorised holidays from the start of the 2026-27 academic year.
The move has drawn criticism from the council’s Conservative opposition, which claims there has been no formal decision by cabinet, full council or a scrutiny committee to change the authority’s approach.
In the letter, sent on the final day of the school year, parents are reminded that holidays should be taken during school breaks wherever possible because every absence results in missed learning.
It adds: “From the start of the 2026-27 academic year, Monmouthshire County Council will be preparing for the introduction of the use of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for unauthorised holidays taken during term time where the circumstances do not meet the exceptional criteria set out in our Attendance and Engagement Policy.”
The council says the approach is intended to promote fairness and consistency across schools while continuing to work constructively with families. It adds that requests for term-time leave will continue to be considered in line with existing criteria and guidance.
However, Monmouthshire Conservative leader Richard John questioned whether the authority had followed the correct decision-making process.
He said: “School attendance is vitally important and schools should continue working with parents and the local authority to tackle persistent absenteeism.
“However, if the Labour councillors running the authority wish to change the Attendance and Engagement Policy, it needs to be consulted upon, scrutinised and a formal decision taken in public. An announcement should not be slipped out in a letter to parents on the final day of term.”
Cllr John said the council’s published Attendance and Engagement Policy describes fixed penalty notices as a last resort after support and intervention with families has been exhausted.
He added: “Yet the letter sent to parents gives the impression that from September Fixed Penalty Notices could become the standard response to unauthorised holidays during term time.
“If the council has changed its policy, where was the democratic decision? Which committee considered it? Which councillors scrutinised the evidence? Parents deserve answers.”
Limited flexibility
He also argued some families working in sectors such as agriculture, tourism and hospitality have limited flexibility over when they can take annual leave, meaning travel outside school holidays can be the only affordable option.
Cllr John called on the council to withdraw the proposed changes until it has consulted schools and parents and undertaken what he described as “a robust decision-making process”.
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Can you blame parents who take holidays outside school term time? The authorities should really turn their attention and blame the holiday companies who choose to create this problem and whack up their prices for no other reason except . . . GREED! The UK has become obsessed with fining people these days as it’s a lucrative way of raising cash but who benefits from the proceeds of these “crimes”? Without people breaking petty rules the authorities would be stuck on how to raise funds to be spent on . . . who knows!!
Rather than fines perhaps there could be commercial rate charges to fund additional teaching resources that help kids keep up or catch up. Set them homework to do on holiday, or in supervised settings on their return.
Do you not think teachers have enough on their plate without having to plan individual teaching programs because parents don’t follow the rules?
Are you happy to pay them extra for this work- because I know government won’t be able to.
The entitlement that comes with expecting others to make amends for others breaking the rules is ridiculous.
That’s why I said the money charged should fund additional teaching resources. Teachers shouldn’t have to do any extra work other than to supply their lesson plans to others to manage the process.
Education and holidays are not mutually exclusive. A great many parents use vacations to educate their children in a way that simply isn’t possible in the classroom. There is a huge difference between going on holiday and having days where you take your kids to see historical and cultural things they couldn’t at home (e.g. Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum) and letting them run feral on a beach while you spend your time on the beer. Most parents are responsible. There needs to be common sense. The UK is an outlier for fining parents for taking kids away during term time.… Read more »
100% right! There are some places where going during the summer holidays is a danger to health, eg Greece in July/August. There are more sensible times to go and that might be during term time as the weather is more temperate. The final point is cost, many parents have very little money. A couple of years ago met a father and son at a bus stop in Wrexham going away for a couple of nights on the TfW bus to Barmouth. Clothes in a plastic shopping bag but the kid was so excited and he would have learnt so much… Read more »
Fines are for unauthorised holidays. I’m sure if families aren’t able to go on holiday anywhere during school holidays the head teacher will understand if parents speak to them first. It is expensive to holiday in late July and August but families don’t need to go abroad and they don’t have to stay in hotels or holiday lets. When our children were young we bought a tent. We all loved camping and took my daughter from the age of four months. If you don’t have a car that would be impossible but caravans are much cheaper than holiday homes anftyiu… Read more »
When school absence fine legislation was introduced in England it was on the basis that the results would be monitored and published to see whether they improved attendance. The data would also identify the social-economic circumstances of those fined (free school meal record). No such data publication has taken place. There is a theory that wealthier families just pay the FPN as a small cost for booking a cheaper holiday outside peak periods. In Wales there was a suggestion that the long summer break could be replaced extended half-terms throughout the year, as they have in Scotland. This also raises academic… Read more »