In England, most parents have expressed their disregard for fines linked to unsanctioned absences from school, disclosing that such threats would not dissuade them from taking their children out of school for vacation. This revelation was revealed in a survey conducted by Parentkind, a charity organization.
The survey conducted among nearly 5,500 parents from various parts of the United Kingdom showed that over half of them were against the policy in England which stipulates that fines could be enforced should a child miss five days of school without requisite permission.
This finding is somewhat startling because 57% of the surveyed parents admit to having considered, or would consider allowing their children to miss school for a day or more in order to undertake a holiday during term-time. Unsurprisingly, just as many parents said that the threat of receiving a fine for an unauthorized term-time holiday would not influence their decision to take their child out of school.
Interestingly, this survey was conducted by YouGov around April and May, shortly before the significantly higher fines for unauthorized pupils’ absence were imposed across England. As part of a move by the Government to improve attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic, the fines for absence have now increased from £60 to £80 for the academic year.
Another significant change is that a parent who incurs a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will automatically be served with a £160 fine. If a parent exceeds two fines per child within three years, the Department for Education (DfE) asserts that other actions such as a parenting order or prosecution will be considered. Those prosecuted could potentially face a fine of up to £2,500.
Health-wise, the survey also discovered that almost one-fifth (18%) of parents asserted it was more challenging to persuade their child to go to school compared to the period before the pandemic, with 31% confessing to being more relaxed about their child’s attendance since the outbreak of COVID-19.
The study also revealed that approximately one in seven parents (14%) reported that their child typically spends seven hours or more a day on electronic devices on an average school day. It is not unusual to find that about one in 10 parents of primary school age children admitted that their child spends at least seven hours a day on their phone, tablet, or games consoles outside school on a typical weekday.
In light of these discoveries, Parentkind is advocating that the government publish the evidence on smartphone harm and enact a Bill to prohibit smartphones for children.
With the continuous increase in the cost of living, there are calls on the government to reconsider the pricing of family holidays deemed ‘rip-off’ and to factor in the cost of schooling in any strategy devised to reduce poverty.
It is alarming to note that more than one-third (34%) of parents are finding themselves in difficult financial conditions as indicated by the poll. The cost of uniforms and school trips are a cause for concern for many families in the country. Alarmingly, over one in five (21%) have had challenges affording costs associated with taking their child to school, and 11% admitted to having acquired a loan or incurred debt to cater to these expenses.
It is noteworthy that the unpalatable effects of financial deprivation and addictive digital technology on families are the root of the ongoing challenges. Hence, the government must draw up actionable strategies to combat these issues head-on, and focus efforts on tougher smartphone regulations, and comprehensive reviews of family holiday costs. The most efficient approach for the government in addressing the root causes of constant absence is to fund services that back families and schools — a task that requires urgent attention.
