Mum-of-five jets off to Benidorm with kids in defiance of tough new term-time fines

Leanne Bray said she will continue to go on term-time holidays with her family
-Credit: (Image: Family Handout)


A defiant mum-of-five has hit back at critics - after she defied new government fines by whisking her children away for a term-time holiday. Leanne Bray explained that off-peak getaways were a necessity due to her kids' special needs.

Freshly back in England after jetting off to Benidorm shortly after schools kicked off the autumn term, Leanne's trip flouted freshly-tightened rules that have hiked penalties from £60 to £80 for each child, with parents potentially footing the bill twice over. Undeterred, Leanne confidently said she'll continue to take term-time getaways to protest against what she regards as "outdated" Department for Education policies.

Firing back at critics, she insists she has zero remorse about her act of defiance and so far, hasn't been slapped with a fine.

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"We've had no fines as of yet, but I'm not holding my breath," she told Birmingham Live. "Sometimes it can take the school a few weeks to catch up. I expect to get a fine, but I will fight it."

Earlier in the year, Leanne had already stood her ground in court when the council prosecuted her for escaping to Lanzarote during school days in February. The case was one of the driving factors in Leanne's decision to home-school her four youngest children.

Leanne has declared that increased fines won't stop her from taking her kids out of school for holidays, as she said: "I've four children who are home-schooled, and if they get a break then so should my daughter."

Leanne emphasised her parental rights, saying: "They're my children and if I want to take them away so they can learn about new cultures, then I have a right to do so. I think that's more beneficial to my children than sitting in a classroom where they're not getting the support they need anyhow."

Undeterred by potential legal action, she revealed: "We're already looking at bookings for next year - these changes won't stop me. Once I hit my third strike, I'll be sent straight to court, but I'm not afraid."

Leanne concluded with a call to action: "I think more people need to stand up for what they believe in. To me, family time is so important and the more people that push the boundaries, the more they'll have to look at changing the rules."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has sounded the alarm over an "absence epidemic" in England's schools, accusing some parents of being too laid-back about letting their children miss school for trivial reasons such as holidays, birthdays, or even a minor cold. In a bid to tackle the issue, the Department for Education has introduced a strict penalty system for truancy, with parents facing an £80 fine if paid within 21 days, increasing to £160 if not settled on time, starting from this academic year.

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