A MUM-OF-TWO has told of her anger at learning she could be charged up to £5,000 and have to go to court if she took her children out of school during term time.
Megan Beasley, who works in the travel industry, explained how she often gets fined for taking her kids out of school, but does it to help put a roof over their heads and pay the bills.
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In a clip shared on TikTok (@megan_beasley1), she admits that she never felt the need to discuss this subject, but says that changed yesterday, when she dropped her children off at school and asked for a vacation form for an upcoming trip.
“The school secretary is absolutely lovely and gave me the holiday form,” explains Megan.
“She says, ‘yes, I’ll give you the holiday form, but I just need to let you know that from September the way we fine you is going to change’.”
The perplexed mother goes on to say that she has heard a lot of “speculation” about school fines, but this is the first time she has received an official printout stating exactly what is changing.
Reading aloud in the car, she explains: “So for your first offence, a fine could be issued for term time, leave or irregular absence and would be £160 per child, payable within 28 days.”
Megan, who says she can’t go out during school holidays because she works with travel agencies and often doesn’t have that option, points out: “And by the way, they charge each adult too.
“So it’s not just per child, they fine you for both mum and dad, so it’s £160 times four if we had to spend a week out of school.”
She then moves on to the second offense and says you can be fined over 3 years, up to £160 per child, payable within 28 days.
“I think that’s really bizarre,” admits Megan.
“If you’re going to fine me, you might as well fine me – don’t leave it until Noah leaves school and three years later I’m going to get a fine because you decided it’s a bit of a lack of funding that week.
“Do you know what I mean?”
Then she says this is “where it gets interesting,” before noting that for your third offense, or whenever you eliminate them after their third offense, you will not receive a penalty notice.
“Instead, the case can be brought directly to a magistrates’ court and the magistrate’s fine can be up to £2,500 per parent, per child,” she says.
“Cases found guilty in the Magistrates Court may see future parental disclosure and certificate of service, if requested, categorized as failing to safeguard the child’s education.”
She continues: “I’m sorry, what? £5,000 fine for taking my kids out of school… and the key word is my children… Mine.
Sorry, what? £5,000 fine for taking my kids out of school. And the keyword is my children… Mine. The world has gone absolutely crazy
Megan Beasley
“The world has gone absolutely crazy.”
Megan goes on to say that what really bothers her is that every time she takes her kids out of school she is completely honest, fills out the leave form, explains the reasons and pays the fine.
“I pay the fine so I can do my job because we have to remember that this is actually my job,” she explains.
“This is my career. This is how I get paid. This is how I pay my bills, and most importantly, this is how I pay my taxes every year.
“So, as a government, you want me to work, earn money, pay my taxes every year, but you are going to fine me for this privilege?
“Like, make sense.”
She goes on to point out that if she removed her children from education completely and taught them at home, she would not have to pay the fines.
“I wouldn’t be prosecuted, I wouldn’t be sent to court and told that I’m neglecting my children by letting them explore the world,” she continues.
“I honestly can’t understand this…it’s really starting to bother me.”
Megan concludes as the form specifies, ‘if your child is absent from school without a good reason’.
She goes on to ask, “What’s a good enough reason to skip school so you won’t get fined for it?
“Because for me, paying my bills and keeping a roof over my head is more important than sending them to school every day of the year.”
What school fines can parents receive?
The main issue that can lead to parents being fined is absence from school.
Currently, it is up to the local council to decide whether or not to impose a fine on parents for their child’s absence from school.
However, from August this year, the fine for absences will be up to the school to consider – when the child misses 10 or more classes for unauthorized reasons.
And the fine will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days – this is issued to EACH parent.
It is the first time that the fine has been increased since 2012 and is in line with inflation.
If a parent receives a second fine for the same child within three years, it will automatically be charged at the higher rate of £160.
Fines will be limited to two fines in a three-year period.
Once this threshold has been reached, proceedings or a parenting order may be considered.
According to the official government website, There are only five reasons why your child should miss school if school is open.
They are the following:
- Your child is too sick to attend that day
- You requested in advance and received permission from the school for your child to be absent that day due to exceptional circumstances
- Your child cannot attend school on that day because it is a day when you participate in religious activities
- The local authority is responsible for arranging transport for your child to school and this is not available that day or has not yet been provided
- You are a gypsy/traveller family with no fixed abode and are required to travel for work that day, which means your child will not be able to attend their usual school
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
