Charlotte Crouch, a mother of four from Exeter, England, has defended her decision to take her children out of school for five days to celebrate her father and stepmother's 25th wedding anniversary in Gran Canaria. Despite incurring a £480 fine from Devon County Council for the unauthorized absences, Crouch stated on social media that the family saved approximately £2,500 by booking the trip during term time.
Crouch explained that the decision was a "no-brainer" due to the significant cost savings compared to traveling during school holidays. She noted that her husband's work in agriculture made it more challenging to travel during the August break. The trip coincided with a vow renewal ceremony for her father and stepmother, an event she felt was important for her children not to miss, particularly as they are not currently facing crucial academic periods like GCSEs.
Devon County Council stated that schools must authorize pupil absences on a case-by-case basis, typically only for exceptional circumstances. The Department for Education's guidance generally does not consider holidays as exceptional. Absences not approved by the school are treated as unauthorized, and parents can expect a fine. Fines are £80 per parent for each child's unauthorized absence, which doubles if not paid within 21 days, with potential prosecution for non-payment.
Crouch shared her experience on Facebook, criticizing the fine as feeling like a "money-making scheme." She stated that she factored the fine into her budget, finding it still cheaper to travel during term time and pay the penalty than to book during peak holiday periods. She also defended the trip's educational value, mentioning that her children learned to swim and went dolphin watching.