Isle of Wight term-time holiday fine case reaches Supreme Court

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The case of a father who successfully challenged a conviction for taking his daughter on holiday during school term-time will be heard in the highest court in the land on Tuesday.

It follows a successful appeal by father Jon Platt against a £120 fine levied by Isle of Wight Council. He argued that his daughter's attendance was regular because even after the holiday it was over the 90% threshold set out by the council in its policy.

In 2015, magistrates ruled he had no case to answer because his daughter attended school regularly during the rest of the school year.

Isle of Wight Council then took the case to the High Court which backed the magistrates, saying they were entitled to take into account the "wider picture" of the child's attendance record.

Following that ruling, the council submitted papers to the Supreme Court, seeking permission to launch a final legal challenge.

Permission was granted and tomorrow Supreme Court justices will consider what constitutes regular attendance.

Mr Platt says he has been contacted by hundreds of parents with questions about this issue.

In the last year, many councils have relaxed their fines policy, as they wait for the conclusion of this case.

Ministers have argued that missing even a few days of school can be detrimental Credit: PA

The Department for Education says its position remains that children should not be taken out of school without good reason.

Since 2013, under guidance from the Department for Education, if children skip school during term time, parents face a £60 fine. That doubles to £120 if it is not paid within three weeks.

Those failing to pay face prosecution, and a maximum fine of £2,500 following prosecution, or up to three months in prison.