30 per cent of parents 'more relaxed' about children missing school

Six million parents would consider taking their child out of school for a holiday, a survey from Parentkind has revealed.

Almost a third of parents said they are "more relaxed" about their children attending schools after the pandemic.

Parents in London and ethnic minority parents are more relaxed than other secondary/post-primary school parents.

Three quarters of parents agree that every school day matters and more than half of parents said that it’s okay to miss school for a day or more for a holiday. 

Parents in Wales and Scotland are more likely to have considered taking, or have taken their child out of school for a holiday, than parents in England or Northern Ireland.

The report found that 50 per cent of parents oppose the policy of fining parents if their children miss more than five days of school without authorisation or a good reason.

Another issue with attendance comes from children not agreeing to go in. One in five children have refused to go to school in the last year, despite their parent thinking they should go.

Despite this, nine in ten parents said their child does not miss school unless it is unavoidable, and more than half of parents have sent their child to school when they are ill. More than half of parents have sent their child to school despite being ill.

One parent quoted in the report said: "Not allowing the occasional family holiday if a child's attendance is perfect is a joke."

The survey also found that it is harder for parents of secondary school aged children to get them to school compared to primary school, especially after the pandemic.