A mother of three has chosen to homeschool her children for three months to avoid legal issues while taking family holidays. Rachel Smith, 43, and her husband Stuart, 41, decided to take this step after being fined £480 in January for taking their kids to Portugal during term time.
Rachel, a jewellery designer, and Stuart, who manages Airbnb properties, had already planned two family trips that required their children—Owen, nine, Ruby, seven, and Zac, five—to miss four days of school. Concerned about facing additional fines or even court action, they opted for homeschooling instead.
“We’re homeschooling our kids for a few months so we can go on some affordable holidays,” Rachel explains. “We had no choice. We were already fined £480, and we were worried about a bigger fine or even a criminal record.”
Their decision comes amid rising fines for school absences in England. Government data for 2023-24 shows a record 487,344 fines issued to parents, with 91% related to unauthorised holidays. If fines go unpaid, parents risk court, with 28,296 prosecuted last year.
Rachel believes the system is too strict. “It feels like a dictatorship. The government should not control our children’s lives like this. Family holidays aren’t a luxury—they’re important for wellbeing and education,” she says.
A petition supporting up to 10 days of term-time holiday per year has gathered 100,000 signatures. Rachel agrees, saying, “We just want to give our kids educational experiences. There should be more flexibility.”
Re-enrolling their children in school isn’t guaranteed. Rachel had to submit a deregistration letter and now must wait for a re-enrolment decision, which can take weeks.
Their homeschooling schedule includes morning spelling and maths, a mid-morning walk, and afternoon activities like art and visits to friends or clubs. Rachel values the flexibility. “If they’re not in the mood for maths, we just do it later,” she says.
Rachel estimates they save £3,000-£5,000 per year by traveling in term time. “We’d do it again if we feel it benefits the kids. They’re only young once,” she adds.
Opinions on this issue are divided. Sleep coach Jade Zammit argues that long absences disrupt routines and social development. “Many kids struggle without structure,” she says.
Columnist Darren Lewis acknowledges parents’ frustration with inflated holiday prices but believes homeschooling should be for education, not vacations. “We removed our son due to classroom issues, not for holidays,” he explains. “Still, travel companies overcharging families is unfair.”