A mother from Stoke-on-Trent has been issued a court fine after taking her child out of primary school for a holiday during term time. The individual's identity remains undisclosed due to legal protections. The mother defended her actions by citing her daughter’s health condition, which she felt justified the need for a break.

At the North Staffordshire Justice Centre, it was revealed that the family's return journey was unexpectedly prolonged due to delays from a travel company that went bankrupt. As a result, the young girl missed an additional two days of school in June 2024.

The mother attempted to resolve a £60 fixed penalty notice online; however, her payment did not process correctly. She explained this failure to the magistrates, attributing it to her dyslexia. “I'm dyslexic and I didn't realise you had to press a confirmation. The dates included school holidays - she was only absent from school a few days,” she stated during the proceedings.

Frustration over the travel delays was evident in her testimony. “I cannot be held responsible for a transfer company not picking me up. I spent every penny I had to get home. I have total respect for the law. But I felt my child needed a break with her family after all she had been through,” she told Stoke on Trent Live.

The girl's record indicated that her absence was a rare occurrence, with attendance for the academic year standing at 87 per cent. In January 2024, the mother officially sought leave from May 23 to June 7 to facilitate their family holiday.

Ultimately, the magistrates imposed a £60 fine alongside a £24 surcharge, with the chair of the magistrates, Philip Taylor, reminding her, “You did try to make payment, but the responsibility is with you to make sure payment has gone through.”

In a concurrent court session, another mother faced a significantly higher penalty of £660 due to her daughter's absence from school from June 5 to June 13, 2024. This mother was not present at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre, and proceedings continued in her absence. The court heard that the school had made attempts to reach the family on June 5, which were unsuccessful, and a follow-up call the next day resulted in an international dial tone. The mother subsequently contacted the school to explain that they were away for a wedding.

Before this situation, it was noted that the student had maintained an attendance record of 85 per cent. Along with her fine, the Stoke-on-Trent mother is required to pay a surcharge of £264 and cover local authority costs totalling £92.78.

Source: Noah Wire Services