Understand
Flamborough mother faces potential £1,000 fine for taking children out of school for term-time holiday
Overview
A mother of four from Flamborough who runs a beach café in Bridlington has taken her children out of school for a second time for a term-time holiday, fearing a fine of nearly £1,000. Hannah and her husband, a fisherman, argue that seasonal occupations in hospitality and fishing prevent them from taking time off during the summer holidays. She has written to her local MP to call for greater lenience towards working families in the tourism industry, while the Department for Education and local councils maintain that fixed penalty notices and attendance targets are vital.
Key points
- Hannah, a 34-year-old mother of four from Flamborough, took her children out of school for a holiday to Greece in September.
- She previously paid a £480 fine for taking her children out of school for a term-time holiday.
- She fears her next fine could double to £960 because it is her second offence.
- Hannah and her husband work in seasonal industries—hospitality and fishing—earning most of their income during July and August, making summer holidays impossible.
- She has written to Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst to appeal for a more lenient council approach toward working families in tourist industries.
- The Department for Education defended fixed penalty notices, stating that term-time holidays place a burden on teachers and affect the entire class.