Derbyshire parents who take their children out of school for holidays during term time will no longer be fined by Derbyshire County Council – unless they are absent for more than two weeks of the year.
Derbyshire county council has been one of the biggest issuers of fines. But now it’s putting its fines on hold, worried about the precedent set by Isle of Wight father Jon Platt who won his recent case.
The council wants to see the results of an upcoming Supreme Court case before it issues any further standard fines. Parents will now only be fined if they take children out of school for two weeks in a year.
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Kathryn Boulton, service director for schools and learning, said “Derbyshire County Council strongly recommends student should not be taken out of school during term time except in exceptional circumstances.
“This is based on clear evidence that shows that good school attendance is a key determinant in good achievement and good school outcomes and youngsters can be affected by not keeping up with their learning and their studies.
“So in the interim period as the council approves some arrangements that supports schools with some local guidance on supporting good school attendance.
“There are always some exceptional circumstances and the county council believes that these interim measures provides a fair and proportionate approach using the Derbyshire annual attendance rate.”
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