Mum facing jail after taking daughter on family break in term time because her other children have different school holidays
Michelle Smith, 34, is refusing to pay fine after taking 10-year-old Amelie away from school for sunshine break when she was still expected to be attending lessons
A MUM-OF-FOUR is risking three months in jail for taking her youngest daughter out of school in term time after a new ‘free-for-all’ on holiday dates left her children unable to take a family getaway together.
Michelle Smith, 34, had wanted to go to Ibiza for the Easter break but rules allowing schools to set their own holidays meant Amelia, 10, broke up two weeks after her four siblings who attend four different schools in the area.
Michelle alerted Amelia's primary school to the clash before pressing ahead with the family's eight-day break.
Ten days after they arrived back in the UK she was issued with a £60 fixed penalty notice by Blackpool Council for failing to ensure her child attended school. Amelia had previously had an attendance rate of 100%.
Today Michelle, a travel agent from Thornton Cleveleys, Lancs said she was refusing to pay the penalty.
She could now be hauled to court where the fine could be increased to £2,500 and leave her facing three months jail and a criminal record.