According to a survey, the majority of parents say that penalties for unauthorized absences will not prevent them from picking up their children from school for the holidays.
Half of parents in England oppose the policy, which considers a fine if a child misses five days of school without permission, according to a survey by the charity Parentkind.
The survey of nearly 5,500 parents across the UK found that almost three in five (57%) think their child has missed or will not attend school for a day or more due to the term break.
The same proportion of parents (57%) said the risk of being fined for an unauthorized half-term break would have no impact on their decision to withdraw their child from school.
The survey was conducted by YouGov in April and May, before higher fines for unauthorized student absences came into force in England.
Penalties for school absences have increased from £60 to £80 this academic year as part of the Government’s drive to increase attendance since the pandemic.
A parent who receives a second fine for the same child within a three-year period will receive an automatic £160 fine under the changes.
The Department for Education (DfE) said that if a parent exceeds two fines per child within a three-year period, other measures such as a parenting order or investigation will be considered and those prosecuted could face fines of up to £100. £2,500.
Almost a fifth (18%) of parents surveyed said it was more difficult to send their children to school compared to before the pandemic, while 31% said they were “more comfortable” with their children attending school since Covid-19.
The survey also found that one in seven parents (14%) say their child spends seven hours or more a day on electronic devices outside of school on a typical weekday.
Nearly one in 10 parents of primary school-aged children said their children spend at least seven hours a day on a typical weekday on their phones, tablets or games consoles outside of school.
The charity is calling on the Government to publish evidence on the harms of smartphones and introduce a bill to ban smartphones to children.
The plea comes as Labor MP Josh MacAlister introduced a Private Member’s Bill (PMB) to Parliament this week to protect children from harm caused by excessive screen time.
The charity is also calling on the Government to review the marketing and pricing of “rip-off” family holidays and include school costs in any strategy to reduce poverty.
According to the survey, more than a third of parents (34%) are struggling with financial problems.
The cost of uniforms and school trips is a concern for many families, the report suggests.
More than one in five (21%) said they were struggling to cover the costs of sending their child to school, and 11% said they had taken out a loan or borrowed money to pay for these expenses.
Some parents reported skipping meals and rationing heating to cope with financial pressures.
Amelia Beeston, a manager in London with two young children, said: “We were aware that having children would involve extra costs but there are so many things we need to buy that they seem excessive.
“This means there is not a lot of money left over to spend time together as a family, which is very important.”
Jason Elsom, CEO of Parentkind, said: “Many parents are struggling to make ends meet and get their kids away from screens, so it’s no wonder the half-term break is appealing to them.”
He added: “We are calling for a huge commitment from ministers to listen to what parents have to say when it comes to making family life cheaper, cutting holiday costs and banning smartphones for children.”
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the survey revealed how the “twin scourges of financial hardship and addictive digital technology” were affecting families.
He said: “We need the government’s child poverty taskforce to urgently address and we need much tougher regulations on smartphones.
“We also wholeheartedly agree with Parentkind’s call for the government to review predatory family holidays.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Ultimately, fines are a blunt instrument. Many teachers and leaders are already making great efforts to support children’s return to school and attendance figures are also starting to improve.
“The best way for the government to address the reasons behind persistent absenteeism is to fund services that support families and schools who faced devastating cuts under the last government’s austerity policies.”
A government spokesman said: “Absenteeism rates have increased in recent years, which is a huge challenge we have inherited, but the strong foundations of learning lie in attendance in the classroom.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to tackle absenteeism. While parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their children are in school, the government is committed to tackling the causes of absenteeism through mental health support in secondary schools, breakfast clubs in all primary schools and inclusive SEND support.
“We will also put an end to skimpy uniforms costing families hundreds of pounds, and our child poverty working group is looking at long-term action to tackle the challenges of those living in poverty.”