Should parents be fined for taking the children on holiday during term time?

A petition calling for parents to be allowed up to 10 days of school absence without fines was debated in Parliament after gaining over 180,000 signatures.

Campaigners argued the current system is unfair, especially given the high cost of holidays during school breaks.

However, the government rejected the proposal, with Schools Minister Georgia Gould saying absence harms learning and long-term outcomes.

Fines for unauthorised absences currently start at £80, rising to £160, with potential court action for repeated offences.

While some MPs called the policy "flawed", the government maintains strict rules are needed to combat what it calls an “absence epidemic.”

Do you think parents should face fines?