Dad fined more than €400 after taking kids out of school for ‘first ever’ family holiday

A dad was fuming after being fined just over €400 (£360) for taking his three children out of school to go on their "first ever" family holiday.

He took to the parenting forum NetMums to vent about the situation, claiming that the situation was "unfair" as one of the family members had done something similar and gotten away without a financial penalty. He added that as his kids weren't in their GSCE or A Level years - unlike the children of his family member - he couldn't see an issue. He explained that he had saved up all year for the holiday to the Isle of Wight, which made the fine even more difficult. He wrote:

"Can someone explain to me how I can be fined for taking my children on a week holiday to [the] Isle of wight and get fined, while a family member takes there children on holiday 2-3times a year - most recently 2 weeks in Egypt - and not get fined. "I work and struggle month to month, while the family member doesn't. "My children are not currently doin gcses while my family member has two girls currently doing GCSEs. "This was our first ever holiday as a family, I had to save and save and save just to treat them while my family member, [who] doesn't do anything all day, can afford 2-3 holidays a year (abroad). "[The] system is so wrong, Why should my kids go without when I try to show them you have to earn anything in life when they look over at my family member who gets everything handed to them. "

The reaction was pretty mixed, with some parents sympathising with the dad's situation. One person wrote:

"I don't blame you one bit! I'm one of the ones taking mine out of school for a week and won't get fined. Other half's holidays don't fall in line with any of the school ones due to his rota so that's why we are doing it."

Another added:

"I can understand your frustration. I think if the child has good attendance then a week off for some quality family time should be allowed. "I can't understand why schools can be allowed to take our children on holiday ie skiing trips but if you wanted to go as a family you would be fined  - how is that acceptable?"

Others, however, were less sympathetic - and told the dad that he knew he "risked being fined when he booked a term time holiday." Someone commented:

"If you don't like it, you can either home school or not go on holiday in term time. Otherwise you just have to accept it. "The fine is a lot of money to find though, so if I were you I would phone up whoever you need to contact and explain you cannot afford all that money at once and try to come to some agreement of paying it off gradually."

A different person added:

"Holidays are a luxury not a right so nobody is being penalised. "Family time can be had anywhere, it doesn't need to be away from home in school time. You knew the risks when deciding to take a holiday in term time so should have made the funds ready to pay the fine."