A mum and dad who took their children on holiday during term time have been fined more than £400 by a Crown Court.

The couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took their two children from Lainesmead Primary School in Swindon between December 15 and January 20 without authorisation.

In the court case, which was proved in their absence this week, they were each fined £200 and told to pay £75 costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge, for failing to secure regular attendance of registered pupils.

National guidance states that schools can allow children off for up to 10 days for a holiday during term if the circumstances warrant it. More than 10 days can be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Rosie Heath, prosecuting for Swindon Council, said the parents were told that 10 days would be allowed, but the children were off school until January 20 – a total of 32 unauthorised absences.

Fixed penalty notices were posted to the couple, giving them a chance to avoid prosecution by paying a £50 fine, if paid by April 8. After that it would double to £100, but no payment was received. This meant the case had to go to court.

This case is the latest in a string of cases in which parents have been fined for taking their children on holiday in term time.

Tightened household budgets are causing more and more parents to take during term time to combat the rising cost during the official school holidays.

Official figures reveal that term time holidays are the second most common reason for school absence after illness.

Parents appear disregarding warnings of spot fines and even prison terms for those who condone truancy, in order to make holiday savings during the tough economic downturn.

According to a recent survey of 400 parents, conducted by travelsupermarket.com, 48% of mothers and fathers admit to taking their child out of lessons for a family trip. Almost a third said they took term time breaks to miss the expense of the peak holiday season, while around one in four insisted travel was an important part of their child's education.

According to the study, prices increase by up to 42 per cent for a family of four taking a two-week trip to the Algarve during the school holidays.

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