Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to you regarding the new School Attendance Rules due to come into effect on 1 September 2026. I hope you will take a moment to consider the concerns of families like mine, who are deeply affected by these changes.

For many parents, having a child is not a simple or guaranteed journey. Around 10–15% of couples struggle to conceive. Of these cases, approximately 30–50% are due to female factors such as ovulation disorders; 30–50% are due to male factors including sperm disorders; and 20–30% arise from combined or unknown causes affecting both partners. For families who have endured this emotional and often traumatic path to parenthood, the opportunity to create meaningful memories with their children is profoundly important.

This is why the new rules around term‑time holidays feel particularly harsh. Many families work on minimum wage and simply cannot afford the inflated prices of holidays during school breaks, where costs rise by thousands of pounds. During term time, these same holidays are considerably more affordable. The reality is that parents are being placed in an impossible position: either forgo a holiday entirely or face prosecution for trying to give their children experiences they have waited, hoped, and fought for.

I want to be clear that I fully support the importance of education. School attendance is vital for a child’s development, stability, and future opportunities. However, I cannot agree with a system that fines or criminalises families for circumstances that are often rooted in financial hardship, emotional need, or compassionate reasoning.

What of families facing separation or divorce, who wish to give their children one last holiday together before their lives change? What of parents or grandparents with severe or terminal health conditions, who long for a reasonably priced holiday to create lasting memories while they still can? These situations are not rare—they are real, human experiences that deserve understanding rather than punishment.

I respectfully ask the government to reconsider the rigidity of these rules and explore a more compassionate, flexible approach. Families should not be penalised for wanting to give their children fundamental life experiences, especially when those children may have been long‑awaited, hard‑won, and deeply cherished.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I hope you will reflect on the human impact these policies have on ordinary families across the country.

Yours sincerely,
Lesha-Tierney Beak