UK School Holiday Fine Calculator (2026)
Under the Department for Education's National Framework, unauthorized term-time holidays trigger statutory fines issued to both parents for each child. Calculate your household liability below.
Absence Parameters
*Local authorities issue separate penalty notices to each parent with legal responsibility.
Estimated Fine Liability
2 parents × 1 child × £80
Fine doubles to £160 per parent, per child if not paid within 21 days.
Avoid Fines: Plan Around Half Terms
Don't pay £160 in fines. Use our free Leave Maximizer to combine bank holidays and authorized school breaks for 9–10 consecutive days off legally.
The DfE School Attendance Rules & Legal Framework
The 10-Session National Threshold
Previously, councils set their own localized fine thresholds. The national framework now mandates that all state schools and councils in England must consider penalty notices when a pupil has 10 sessions (5 full school days) of unauthorized absence within a rolling period of 10 school weeks.
What Happens if Fines Are Unpaid?
If a penalty notice is not paid within 28 days, the local authority cannot accept late payment. By law, the council must either prosecute the parents under Section 444(1) of the Education Act 1996 or withdraw the notice in exceptional circumstances.