A MUM has shared her shock after receiving an "absolutely ridiculous" fine for taking her kids on a term time holiday. Danielle Sands and her partner received a total fine of £320 for taking their three kids away on the "once in a lifetime" trip. And they aren't the only ones who have taken the risk of a term time holiday - as more and more parents would rather face penalisation than the extortionate costs of a holiday during the school break.

The Department for Education (DfE) revealed statistics that showed 443,322 fines were issues for unauthorised school time holidays in 2023/24 - a sharp increase from the 356,181 the previous year. While in Lapland, the children were taken to see the Northern Lights, and learned about the science behind them - taking a book along with them with information on the earth's magnetic currents. They'd also taken a husky safari and gone snowmobiling, where they learnt about the historic importance of dog sledding and the different means of travel in Finland.

They family had seen reindeer, gone skiing and ice skating, and crossed the Arctic circle - all activities Danielle felt developed her kids' education. "It's something that my children was never ever gonna gain by sitting in a classroom," she said, "children would only ever get to read this from a textbook.". But when the family returned home, the parents were disappointed to see they had been slapped with a fine.

Danielle said her partner works many long hours, often at work by the time their children wake up and back after their bed time, and she questioned when their "family time was allowed". She said the couple have accepted that for future holidays they will just have to "play the game" and book during inset days or bank holidays. And Danielle isn't the only mother who's been penalised for a term-time trip.

Self-professed bad mum Whitney Ainscough jetted off on two family holidays during school time last year - despite risking a criminal record. Whitney said she paid the fine for her first holiday but on 17 January opened a letter that she assumed was a second fine, only to find she might be facing a criminal record for taking her children out of school. Now Whitney is planning to take them to Euro Disney during term time, a trip she also claims is educational.

The DfE website says: "Every moment in school counts and days missed add up quickly. "Evidence shows that pupils who have good attendance enjoy better wellbeing and school performance than those who don't. "In the majority of cases, schools and local authorities will try and provide support to help you improve your child’s attendance first, but if this isn’t effective or the absence is for unauthorised term time holiday, parents may face paying a fine.".

THE main issue that can lead to parents receiving a fine is missing school. Currently, it's the decision of the local council whether or not to issue a parent a fine for their child missing school. However, from August this year, the fine for absences will up to the school to consider - when a child has missed 10 or more sessions for unauthorised reasons. And the fine will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days - this is issued to EACH parent.

It's the first time the fine has been increased since 2012, and is in line with inflation. If a parent receives a second fine for the same child within three years, this will automatically be charged at the higher rate of £160. Fines will be capped at two fines within a three-year period. After this limit has been reached, prosecution or a parenting order may be considered. According to the official government website, there are only five reasons your child should be absent from school if the school is open.