School fines for absence in Norfolk hit new record

Record numbers of parents in Norfolk are being fined for taking their children out of school during term time, with the total exceeding 10,000 a year for the first time.

Norfolk County Council says more than 10,130 penalties were issued at state-funded schools across the region during the last academic year, the highest number on record.

The number is 30 per cent higher than the previous year and suggests that more families are prepared to accept the fines in order to go on cheaper holidays.

The figures have emerged weeks before the start of the new term, when fines will go up from £120 – reduced to £60 for early payment – to £160 and £80, respectively. Fines are given to each parent involved.

The money collected from fines is used to fund the prosecution of offences in the cases of non-payment, with any money left over spent on attendance support.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “We are committed to improving attendance with the support-first approach outlined in our guidance, helping parents to meet their responsibility to ensure their child attends school.

“However, in cases of term-time holiday where support would be inappropriate in the first place, legal intervention, including penalty notices, is available to change behaviour.”

The amount raised is expected to be between £600,000 and £1.2 million – depending on the length of time taken to pay the fines.