Revealed: Families fined over £40 million for going on term-time holidays since 2022 – and the top 10 councils with the most fines

New research has revealed that UK parents have been fined £41 million in fines for taking children out of school during term time since 2022. 

Nearly 900,000 penalty notices were issued to parents and guardians between 2022 and 2024, according to the research by Confused.com.

Parents were most likely to be fined in Essex with Essex County Council issuing a whopping 35,605 fines. 

Bradford and Lancashire are also hotspots with more than 34,000 fines issued by each area’s council. 

Despite the risk of a fine – currently up to £160 per parent per child – Confused.com found that many families still choose to holiday during term time. 

A survey of parents with school aged children found that 86 per cent would consider taking their child out of school for a holiday.

While nearly half of those surveyed (45 per cent) felt it was fine to take a child out of school at any age, almost one in four (23 per cent) thought it was only acceptable to do so with primary-school age children. 

And a third (33 per cent) of parents said they thought travel was just as important as formal education. 

Parents who take their children out of school for a holiday during term time could save an average of £567 on flights and accommodation, according to the research. 

However, Confused.com has warned parents that the fines could ‘quickly outweigh the savings’ with parents also at risk of legal action. 

Alvaro Iturmendi, Confused.com travel insurance expert comments: ‘For many families, term-time holidays are becoming an increasingly popular choice due to the financial pressures of travelling during peak season school breaks. 

‘With prices often soaring outside of term time, some parents are weighing up the potential cost of a fine against the savings they can make by travelling off-peak.

‘However, it’s important to understand that fines for unauthorised absences can quickly add up as they’re typically issued per parent, per child. 

‘So, a £60 fine could double to £120 for a two-parent household, and even more if you have multiple children.

‘But if this is something that is happening repeatedly, then councils could take legal action. 

‘So while the savings could seem worth it, the consequences could be far more severe than you realise.’

Confused.com has created a school fines calculator that parents can use to work out how much they might be charged for their term time trip away.  

Alvaro adds: ‘There are still ways you could save money on holidays during the school holiday, and avoid risking fines. 

‘Opting for lesser-known destinations, or choosing a package holiday could work out cheaper. Or looking to book as far ahead in advance as possible might mean you get a cheaper deal.’ 

‘Regardless of when you travel, family holidays can be very expensive. Especially if you’re paying out for a fine on top of the holiday cost. 

‘So it’s always important to protect your family and holiday with travel insurance, in case of any unexpected events, which could leave you out of pocket. 

‘And doing this as soon as you book, covers you for anything that may come up between booking and when you head off.’