Dad who booked 'much needed family holiday' left fuming after school fine threat

A dad who booked a family holiday during term time is angry after being told he could face a fine if he took his daughter out of school.

Liam O'Neill, 41, wanted to take his children, Jake, 15, Alex, 13 and Abby, nine, on what he said was a "much needed" weekend holiday to Haven, in Pwllheli with his wife.

But it would mean leaving on Friday and returning on Monday and Liam said Abby's primary school, Mersey Park, in Tranmere would not allow it, reported the Liverpool Echo.

Instead it said that an unauthorised absence of five days could see the local authority issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £60 moving to £120 if it was not paid within 28 days.

Liam feels that the lockdown impact constitutes “exceptional circumstances”.

He said: "We were really sure of the term dates because of the pandemic and we had managed to get one of the first holidays to Haven booked in over a weekend.

Liam said that his children need a break due to the pressure they have been under during lockdown (LiverpoolEcho WS)

"We asked Abby's school for one and a half days off for this, but never again. We were so angry with the attitude from the school and the threat of a fine after they have been kept out of school for so long.

"And they didn't even respond to my reply to them - which I think, speaks volumes.

"We cancelled the holiday request - it almost makes you not want to tell the truth.

"It would be just so nice to get the kids out swimming and doing normal things again.

"To rebook in the school holiday we would have had to pay an extra £400."

Some schools will authorise time off in exceptional circumstances and Liam believes that the pressure on kids means that they need a break.

He said: "Following a global pandemic, I would say this is an 'exceptional circumstance'.

"I can't think of anything more needed for some of the children and the pressures and effects it has had on them over the last year.

"They have been living in fear over the past year with all the masks in schools."

A Wirral Council spokesperson said: "The approach to dealing with unauthorised absences from school is a national one, set out in law.

"Schools have a duty to inform parents of the rules and potential consequences of a breach of those rules.

"Headteachers do have some discretion to authorise absence if the request is for an 'exceptional circumstance' but that was not demonstrated in this instance."