There are plans to increase penalties handed to parents

A huge number of parents who took their child out of school during term time for unauthorised holidays were fined in the last academic year.

A total of 443,000 fines were issued, marking a record high and a 53 per cent rise since the coronavirus pandemic.

The data comes after education secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed plans to increase fines handed to rule-breaking parents.

Parents can be punished with fines for letting their children miss school without permission.

Local councils previously were able to hand out an initial fine of £60, which has since increased to £80.

The fine then doubles to £160 if the parents do not pay within 21 days.

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Schools and local councils can also enforce parenting orders, education supervision orders and school attendance orders alongside fines or penalty notices, LancsLive reports.

Starting from the 2024/2025 school year, each parent will only be able to receive a fine twice within three years.

The second fine will automatically be £160 under the new rules.

You could be taken to court if your child is absent without good reason three or more times within three years, with parents facing a £2,500 penalty.

They may also be given a community order, parenting order or a jail term up to three months.

A parenting order forces the parent to attend parenting classes and commit to any tasks the court orders to improve their child’s school attendance.

An education supervision order can be issued if the council think you need support to get your child to school but you are not cooperating.

A supervisor will be appointed to help you.

A school attendance order is issued to parents if the council believes your child is not getting an education.

Parents will have 15 days to show evidence that their child is registered with the school named in the order or that they are receiving a home education.

If a parent cannot provide evidence, they could be prosecuted or fined.

Ms Phillipson previously said: “Tackling the epidemic of school absence is everyone’s responsibility – government, schools, parents, and children – we need a national effort to get young people back in the classroom.”

Penalties may be different if you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. More information can be found on the Gov.uk website.