Fines for parents who take children out of school without authorisation have tripled in the last three years.
More than £380,000 worth of penalties were issued to parents. New statistics from Brighton and Hove City Council show that over 2,500 parents were fined in the city this academic year, amounting to nearly £200,000 in fines in 2023/24 alone.
It comes as fines for taking children out of school during term time are set to increase in August.
According to the figures from a Freedom of Information request, parents in Brighton and Hove have been fined £387,420 for unauthorised pupil absences since 2021.
The number of fines rose dramatically from 2021 – towards the end of Covid-19 restrictions in schools – and now. 755 penalties were issued three years ago compared to 2,522 this year.
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The FOI from Legal Experts shows a 234 per cent increase in fines in the past three years.
Figures also showed that 101 fines issued in the last three years were sent for prosecution due to non-payment.
As it stands, unauthorised absences can see parents slapped with a £60 fine which increases to £120 per child if it is not paid within 21 days with a potential for prosecution for non-payment of 28 days.
Fines are set to increase up to £160 from August if pupils are taken out of school for a term-time holiday, with 89 per cent of fines nationally linked to this.
According to the Department of Education, “Fines are a last resort, and parents will be offered support to help improve their child’s attendance first.”
Brighton and Hove City Council was approached for comment.
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