A council sent a letter to a mother warning her of a possible criminal record for taking her daughter on holiday during term time.
A mother in the UK is facing serious consequences after taking her daughter on a holiday during the school term.
This situation has drawn attention and sparked conversations about the strict rules surrounding school attendance.
A mother took daughter on a Turkey trip during school term
Natalie Saunders, a resident of Crawley, took her eight-year-old daughter to Bodrum, Turkey, for a week-long holiday in May.
The $1,150 trip could result in a fine, but Natalie didn’t expect to face a criminal record.
Upon returning from her sunny getaway, Natalie received no fine in the mail.
She assumed everything was fine and thought she had avoided any penalties.
Mother faces criminal record from West Sussex County Council.
However, in August, she received an unexpected letter from West Sussex County Council.
The letter informed her that she had not paid a $76,50 fine for her daughter’s unauthorized absence from school.
The letter stated that Natalie had missed the chance to accept the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) issued shortly after her trip.
The council reminded her that failing to pay the fine could lead to court action.
The letter added: “Should you feel there has been an error in our payments records, I urge you to contact us and offer the evidence of any payments at the earliest opportunity.”
It continued: “As the offer of the FPN has not been taken it is now the intention for the Local Authority to prepare Court papers for the offence under the Education Act 1996.
“The Court action could lead to you being given a fine of up to $1,300 and receiving a criminal record. The Court may also require you to pay court costs.
The fine left mother shocked as it could negatively impact her career
This news shocked Natalie, who believed she had not done anything wrong.
She was now facing the possibility of a criminal record and a fine of up to $1,300.
Natalie explained that she had not followed up on the fine because she thought it was not guaranteed she would receive one.
She later learned that it was her responsibility to prove she did not receive the initial notice, rather than the council’s duty to prove they sent it.
This has left her feeling frustrated and worried about her future.
The council’s letter also indicated that if Natalie did not respond by a specified date, they would prepare legal action against her.
She has until November 26 to plead, adding stress as a potential criminal record could jeopardize her career.
Natalie expressed regret over her decision to take her daughter out of school during term time.
She stated, “I will never take my child out of school again.”
“The idea of getting a criminal record is devastating. I’m a good person.
If I wasn’t, I would have just taken my daughter off ‘ill’ for those six days. Even if the truth is bad, it is better than lying.
“It’s a criminal record. I don’t want this against my name.
I’ve got a good job and work in risk and compliance and I am studying for a diploma to further my career and this could stop me in my tracks.
It could ruin this.”
The law regarding school attendance is strict in the UK.
The Department for Education stresses that every school day counts and has instructed headteachers to stand firm against term-time holidays.
Many schools have policies that discourage parents from taking their children out of school without proper permission.
A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said they follow national guidelines on Fixed Penalty Notices.
They explained that unpaid fines are usually referred to the court process, where parents can present their side of the story.
The council aims to ensure consistency and fairness in how these cases are handled.
“The DfE is clear in its position that every moment in school counts and it has directed headteachers to take a strong stance on unauthorised holidays in term time.
“We follow the DfE National Guidelines on the use and issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices in such cases, ensuring a consistency of approach and practice.
Unpaid fines are referred to the court process where parents are able to give their mitigation should they choose.
“In all cases the Fixed Penalty Notice and legal services teams follow the established legal process and the published code of conduct to ensure consistency and fairness to all cases.”