I was fined £2k for taking kids on holiday during term time but I don’t care… I STILL saved £3k for going in down-season

A COUPLE fined £2,000 for taking their kids on holiday during term time still saved £3,200 on the cost of the trip - and say they have "no regrets".

Rebekah Richardson, 38, and Dale Wood, 46, wanted to take their children - Jacob, eight, and Oliver, seven - on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, US.

Rebekah and Dale say they simply wanted to take their kids on a once-in-a-lifetime trip
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Rebekah and Dale say they simply wanted to take their kids on a once-in-a-lifetime tripCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Taking kids Jacob and Oliver away in September rather than October meant a £5,000 price difference
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Taking kids Jacob and Oliver away in September rather than October meant a £5,000 price differenceCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Rebekah and Dale were stunned to cop a significant fine from their local council
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Rebekah and Dale were stunned to cop a significant fine from their local councilCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

But when they compared the price of going in September during term time to the October half term they were astonished to see a £5,000 price difference.

They decided to instead go during the school term - but are now "struggling to cope" as they are facing huge fines from their local authority.

Derbyshire County Council issued a fixed penalty notice to both parents - ordering Rebekah to pay £924 and Dale £1,044. 

Had they not agreed to pay up, after 28 days they risked being prosecuted for their children's absence from school. They have now started a payment plan.

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Rebekah, a hairdresser, from Clowne, Derbyshire, said: “We’re being treated as criminals for taking our young kids on holiday.

"I feel as parents we’re penalised for everything now.

"I have no regrets as a parent - I think you can't ever regret spending time together as a family.

"The fine situation it’s like Russian roulette. Some parents get fined, some don't, which is unfair.

"Either every parent gets fined or none; you can’t pick and choose - I don't think we should get criminal records."

Dale, an army veteran who now works for a water company, had been suffering from PTSD after his brother, Gavin, died suddenly aged 35 - after complications arising from taking the Covid vaccine.

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The holiday - from September 12 to September 27 - was in part a getaway as he had been suffering with his mental health and the destination was his late brother Gavin's favourite place.

Rebekah said the holiday was “magical” but now worries that she will have to cancel Christmas for her family as they are “totally skint.”

She said: “We went swimming with the dolphins – the kids loved it, they even held an alligator.

"They loved meeting all the Marvel characters and meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

“It was so nice to get away but now we are very stressed and worried about what will happen.”

On May 30, Rebekah and Dale were stunned to receive a court summons - ordering Rebekah to pay £924 and Dale £1,044. 

Dale had been off work since January due to his mental health and only returned three weeks ago.

Rebekah said: “Dale wasn’t working in November and doesn't earn a regular daily wage - we are now really skint. 

Cost breakdown of the Woods' family trip

Out of term time
Flights and accommodation in a package - £3,000
Family tickets for Orlando Studios - £1,200
Family tickets for Disneyland (for three days) - £1,100
Total: £5,200

During school holidays
Flights and accommodation in a package - £6,200
Family tickets for Orlando Studios - £2,100
Family tickets for Disneyland (for three days) - £2,100

Total spent - £10,400
Saving - £5,200
Savings after fines - £3,200

“When the fine came through in December 2023, it was the difference between having Christmas and not."

The couple are currently disputing the amount - due to their financial circumstances changing.

“We are scared that we will now have a criminal record and it will go against our credit rating,” Rebekah said.

Rebekah says she knows of other parents who have done the same who have not been fined – and says "it’s not fair" that it’s 'one rule for some and a different rule for others'.

The family are now behind on every bill and have had to set up a direct debit to pay £170-a-month to pay off the fine.

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“We’re being treated as criminals for taking our kids on holiday, they're not year 11 and sitting GCSEs,” Rebekah said.

“It’s alright for teachers to go on strike, which made me lose money as I am self-employed and had to stop working to look after the kids.”

Taking kids out of school for a holiday: the rules

Parents can only take their kids on trips during term time if they get permission from the head teacher, the government says.

Applications to the head teacher need be made in advance and must come from the parent that the child usually lives with.

The only other way parents can take their kids out of the classroom is if there are "exceptional circumstances".

If leave is granted, it's up to the head teacher to decide how many days to allow.

Without this permission parents can be fined up to £2,500.

The court also has the power to slap parents with a community order or even jail sentence up to three months, along with a parenting order.

The latter may entail having to attend a three-month parenting programme, while the court can add other conditions like ensuring the child attends school for the next 12 months.

The kids met their favourite superheroes on the trip that their parents were later penalised for
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The kids met their favourite superheroes on the trip that their parents were later penalised forCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The government says parents are prone to copping fines if they don't gain permission from the head teacher
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The government says parents are prone to copping fines if they don't gain permission from the head teacherCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk