PETITIONClosedPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Do not fine parents for children missing school for family funerals abroad
I would like Parliament to amend Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 to provide parents an exemption from fines when they take children abroad for a family funeral. The exemption should apply for 10 days per school year.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
87
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 87/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 87/100,000
Background
Parents who have moved from abroad and are raising children here may have the majority of their family still abroad. Some parents from other countries who have taken their children out of school for close family events, such as weddings and funerals, have been fined. I think it's unfair to penalise parents who have a genuine interest in their child's education.