'Some parents see school as optional and £80 fines for holidays have no impact'

Some parents see school as "optional" following the Covid-19 pandemic and fines for unauthorised absences are "not reversing" that trend, according to the leader of a headteachers' union. Pepe Di'Iasio, the leader of a headteachers' union, is set to say some families now view school attendance as "optional" post-pandemic, and that fines for unauthorised absences failing to curb the trend. Speaking at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) annual conference in Liverpool on Saturday (today), Di'Iasio will argue that penalties for parents who take their children out of school without permission can "often deepen tensions" with families. In his address, Mr Di'Iasio will urge ministers to collaborate with the travel industry to tackle the "excessive" costs of holidays during school breaks. These remarks come as a recent ASCL survey indicates that 93% of state school teachers and leaders have encountered instances this academic year where pupils were absent because their families opted for a holiday during term time.