HUNDREDS OF PARENTS FINED OVER KIDS MISSING SCHOOL

ALMOST 250 parents have been hit in the pocket for thousands of pounds for not sending their children to school in Nuneaton and Bedworth.

That is according to the results of a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request made by the Telegraph to Warwickshire County Council, the local education authority.

It asked for figures for how many fines have been given out to parents across the two towns for their children having unauthorised absences in school, this can include holidays or repeated missed days from the classroom.

It has been revealed that, in 2015/2016, there were 171 fines given out to parents.

This figure dropped to 70 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) for 2016/17.

The FPN cost £120 but can be reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days, and the funds raised are kept by the county council. If payments are not made, the County Council has the right to take legal action.

Head teachers have to report all absences, authorised and unauthorised, and it is the County Council which then decides whether to issue a fine.

In April last year, the Supreme Court ruled against a father on the Isle of Wight who challenged a £120 fine for taking his daughter out of primary school for an unauthorised holiday during term time.