A MUM has been left raging after receiving a letter from her local council saying she’ll get a criminal record if she doesn’t pay a fine for taking her kids out of school.
Laura explained that she’d made the decision to take the kids out school to go on holiday to Egypt – and they missed eight days of the term.
And while the school did say that they would get a fine, Laura was left fuming when she actually received the letter.
She read it out in a video on her TikTok page, with the document saying: “I’ve been notified that between February 19th and February 28th, the pupil failed to attend regularly at the school.
“This notice gives you the opportunity to pay a fine instead of being prosecuted.
“The amount is £60/£120 in accordance to the table overleaf.
“If you pay this fine within the time limit set out, no further action will be taken against you in connection with the offense.”
“Sounds awful, doesn’t it? The offense?” Laura insisted.
“And you will avoid getting criminal record,” the letter concluded.
“A criminal record for taking your kids on holiday!” Laura raged.
“Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous!
“The time scale is if I pay within 21 days, so before April 10th, I have to pay £60.
“Within 28 days, which brings it up to April 17th, it’s £120.”
She actually received two letters, while her husband also received two letters.
“So it’s £60 per child,” she said.
“So that’s £120, technically from me for my kids, and then £120 from husband.
“But obviously we’re together anyway, so, yeah, £240.”
Despite the fine, Laura insisted it’s still less than what they saved by going on holiday in term time.
“So it’s still a win win to me!” she said, defiantly.
“Yeah, I’ll be paying the fine and whatever. Whatever!”
People were quick to comment on the video, with one writing: “I’m saving over 5k on a holiday in July.
“I’ll gladly pay the £240!”
“Schools get less funding if your child isn’t at school,” another said.
“That’s the only reason!”
“Probably learnt more going to Egypt than having a week in school,” a third insisted.
As someone else argued: “I honestly don’t know why they don’t scrap school holidays all together and just open all year and give the kids 28 days holiday every year to take when they want like adults do!”