A COUPLE fined £2,000 for taking their children on holiday during term time still saved thousands – and say they have “no regrets”.
Rebekah Richardson, 38, and Dale Wood, 46, wanted to take their sons – eight-year-old Jacob and seven-year-old Oliver – on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, USA.
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But when they compared the price of going in September during term time with the October term, they were surprised to see a price difference of £5,000.
They decided to go during term time but say they are now “struggling to cope” as they face hefty fines from the local authority.
Derbyshire County Council issued a fixed penalty notice, also known as a fine, to both parents – ordering Rebekah to pay £924 and Dale £1,044.
If they hadn’t paid, after 28 days they would have been at risk of potentially being sued for their children’s absence from school – even though they had already started a payment plan.
Rebekah, a hairdresser from Clowne, Derbyshire, said: “We are being treated like criminals for taking our young children on holiday.
“I feel like as parents we are penalized for everything now.
“I have no regrets as a father – I don’t think you can ever regret spending time together as a family.
“The situation is like Russian roulette, some are fined, others are not, which is unfair.
“Either all the parents get fined or none you can choose – I don’t think we should get criminal records.”
Dale, an army veteran who now works for a water company, suffered from PTSD after his brother, Gavin, died suddenly aged 35 – following complications from taking the Covid vaccine.
The holiday – from September 12 to 27 – was partly an escape as he had been struggling with his mental health and the destination was his late brother Gavin’s favorite place.
Rebekah said the holiday was “magical” but now fears she will have to cancel Christmas for her family as they are “totally thin”.
Rebekah said: “We went swimming with the dolphins – the children loved it, they even held a crocodile.”
“They loved meeting all the Marvel characters and meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
How do school fines really work?
If your child is absent and you have not received advance permission from the headteacher to withdraw your child from school, the school and local council may take action.
Before then, your child’s school and local council will be expected to support you in improving your child’s attendance before any measures are put in place..
These measures include:
- Issue a fixed penalty notice, also known as a ‘fine’ – your local council may impose a fine on each parent. If you don’t pay the fine after 28 days, you could be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.
- Request a Family Court Educational Supervision Order – if the council thinks you need support for your child to attend school, but you are not cooperating, they can ask a court for an Educational Supervision Order. A supervisor will be appointed to help you place your child in education. The local council can do this rather than sue you or also sue you.
- Sue you – that means you have to go to court. You could receive a fine, community order or prison sentence of up to 3 months. The court may also issue a parenting order.
The vast majority of fines for unauthorized absences (89%) are applied to school holidays.
From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 daysor £160 if paid within 28 days.
In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.
Fines per parent will be limited to two fines in any three-year period. Once this limit is reached, other measures will be considered, such as a parental order or prosecution.
If you are prosecuted and appear in court because your child did not attend school, you could receive a fine of up to £2,500.
“It felt so good to get away, but now we’re really stressed and worried about what’s going to happen.”
On Tuesday 30 May, Rebekah and Dale were surprised to receive a court summons – ordering Rebekah to pay £924 and Dale £1,044.
To make matters worse, Dale – who earns a salary through contracts – had been off work since January due to his mental health and only returned three weeks ago.
Rebekah said: “Dale wasn’t working in November and doesn’t earn a regular daily wage – we’re now very thin.
When the fine came, in December 2023, it was the difference between having Christmas or not.
Rebecca Richardson
The couple are currently disputing the amount – due to their changing financial situation.
“We are scared that we now have a criminal record and it will go against our credit rating,” Rebekah said.
Rebekah says she knows other parents who have done the same and haven’t been fined – and says it’s “not fair” that it’s one rule for some and a different rule for others.
The family are now behind on all their bills and have had to set up a direct debit to pay £170 a month to pay the fine and say they are struggling.
We are being treated like criminals for taking our children on holiday, they are not in Year 11 and they are not at GCSE.
Rebecca Richardson
“And it’s okay if teachers go on strike, which meant I had to take unpaid time off because I’m self-employed.”
Trip breakdown of the Woods’ family trip
Let’s compare the costs of Wood’s long-term vacation to how much it would have cost if they went during the summer vacation:
- Out of term Flights and accommodation package – £3,000
- Orlando Studios Family Tickets – £1,200
- Disneyland family tickets (for three days) – £1,100
- Total: £5,200
During school holidays Package flights and accommodation – £6,200
- Orlando Studios Family Tickets – £2,100
- Disneyland family tickets (for three days) – £2,100
- Total spent – £10,400
Saving – £5,200
Savings after fines – £3,200
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
