Staffordshire has provided parents and schools with temporary new guidance on term time holidays amid ‘uncertainty’ after high court ruling.
The county council announced yesterday (27 July) parents would be fined if their child had more than 10 days of unauthorised absence over two half terms in a row.
Current rules on term-time absences state parents may remove their children if they make a successful application to the head teacher ahead of a trip, or if there are ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Local authorities can fine parents £60 for unauthorised absences, and this can increase to £120 if payment is not made within 21 days.
However, there has been some confusion since a recent High Court ruling stated children could be taken out of school for term-time holidays as long as they had a good attendance record.
This was contradicted by then schools minister Nick Gibb who told head teachers to ignore the ruling and continue to enforce fines on parents.
The High Court case, which was brought against the Isle of Wight, has now been referred to the Supreme Court.
Last October, the Local Government Association (LGA) said head teachers should be allowed to take a 'common sense approach' to holidays.
Staffordshire CC said the temporary measures will remain in place until a full-scale review of guidance is completed, and the legal case resolved in the Supreme Court.
Echoing the LGA, Cllr Ben Adams, Staffordshire’s education lead, said the county council was taking a ‘common-sense approach’ in light of recent rulings.
‘We recognise that the recent ruling in the Isle of Wight case has led to some uncertainty for parents,’ Cllr Adams said.
‘In order to give them some clarity, we are taking a common-sense approach while we take a closer look at our guidance.’
