As a parent of two children, I am deeply concerned about the new fine system that will be implemented from September 2024. This system penalises families who take their children out of school for holidays and trips during term time. It is not just an inconvenience; it is a direct infringement on our rights as parents to spend quality time with our children. This policy disproportionately affects working-class families, making it yet another tax on us.

The government's role should be to support families, not hinder them. The current policy does not consider the benefits of family trips such as exposure to different cultures, languages and experiences which are equally important for a child's development as classroom learning.

According to the Family and Childcare Trust, family holidays can have multiple benefits for children including improving their wellbeing and educational attainment (Family and Childcare Trust). Yet this new policy threatens these positive outcomes by imposing financial penalties on parents who choose alternative forms of education outside term time.

We urge the government to reconsider this punitive approach towards unauthorised absences. Instead, they should focus on creating policies that support all aspects of child development rather than just academic achievement within school walls.

Please sign this petition if you believe in preserving parental rights and promoting holistic child development over rigid adherence to term times.