‘We’re being treated like criminals’ cries mum who got £2k fine for taking kids on ‘dream holiday’ – but has no regrets
A COUPLE fined £2k for taking their kids 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 children – Jacob, eight, and Oliver, seven – on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, US.
But when they compared the price of going in September during term time to the October half term they were astonished to see a £5k price difference.
They decided to instead go during the school term but say are now “struggling to cope” as they are facing huge fines from their local authority.
Derbyshire County Council issued a fixed penalty notice, otherwise known as a fine, to both parents – ordering Rebekah to pay £924 and Dale £1,044.
Had they do not paid up, after 28 days they risked potentially being prosecuted for their children’s absence from school – though they have now started a payment plan.
Rebekah, a hairdresser, from Clowne, Derbyshire, said: “We’re being treated as criminals for taking our young kids on holiday.
“I feel as parents we’re penalised for everything now.
“I have no regrets as a parent – I think you can’t ever regret spending time together as a family.
“The fine situation it’s like Russian roulette some get fined some don’t which is unfair.
“Either every parent gets fined or none you can’t pick and choose – I don’t think we should get criminal records.”
Dale, an army veteran who now works for a water company, had been suffering from PTSD after his brother, Gavin, died suddenly aged 35 – after complications arising from taking the Covid vaccine.
The holiday – from September 12 to September 27 – was in part a getaway as he had been suffering with his mental health and the destination was his late brother Gavin’s favourite place.
Rebekah said the holiday was “magical” but now worries that she will have to cancel Christmas for her family as they are “totally skint.”
Rebekah said: “We went swimming with the dolphins – the kids loved it, they even held an alligator.”
“They loved meeting all the Marvel characters and meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
How do the school fines actually work?
If your child is absent and you haven’t received advance permission from the headteacher to take your child out of school, the school and local council may take action.
Before that, your child’s school and your local council are expected to support you to improve the child’s attendance before any measures are put in place.
These measures include:
- Issue a fixed penalty notice, otherwise known as a ‘fine’ – your local council can give each parent a fine. If you do not pay the fine after 28 days you may be prosecuted for your child’s absence from school.
- Seek an Education Supervision Order from the family court – if the council thinks you need support getting your child to go to school but you’re not co-operating, they can apply to a court for an Education Supervision Order. A supervisor will be appointed to help you get your child into education. The local council can do this instead of, or as well as, prosecuting you.
- Prosecute you – this means you have to go to court. You could get a fine, a community order or a jail sentence up to 3 months. The court could also give you a Parenting Order.
The vast majority of fines for unauthorised absence (89%) are issued for term time holidays.
From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.
In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.
Fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.
If you’re prosecuted and attend court because your child hasn’t been attending school, you could get a fine of up to £2,500.
“It was so nice to get away but now we are very stressed and worried about what will happen.”
On Tuesday May 30, Rebekah and Dale were stunned to receive a court summons – ordering Rebekah to pay £924 and Dale £1,044.
To make matters worse, Dale – who earns a wage via 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 are now really skint.
When the fine came through in December 2023, it was the difference between having Christmas and not.
Rebekah Richardson
The couple are currently disputing the amount – due to their financial circumstances changing.
“We are scared will now have a criminal record and it will go against our credit rating,” Rebekah said.
Rebekah says she knows of other parents who have done the same who have not 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 every bill and have had to set up a direct debit to pay £170-a-month to pay off the fine and say they’re struggling.
We’re being treated as criminals for taking our kids on holiday, they’re not year 11 and sitting GCSEs.
Rebekah Richardson
“And it’s alright for teachers to go on strike which made me have to unpaid time off as I am self-employed.”
Breakdown of trip the Woods' family trip
Let's compare the Wood's in-term holiday costs with how much it would have cost them if they went during the summer holidays:
- Out of term time Flights and accommodation in a package – £3,000
- Family tickets for Orlando Studios – £1,200
- Family tickets for Disneyland (for three days) – £1,100
- Total: £5,200
During school holidays Flights and accommodation in a package – £6,200
- Family tickets for Orlando Studios – £2,100
- Family tickets for Disneyland (for three days) – £2,100
- Total spent – £10,400
Saving – £5,200
Savings after fines – £3,200
