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Father wins term-time holiday High Court ruling

A father who refused to pay a £120 fine for taking his daughter out of school during term-time for an unauthorised holiday has won a legal challenge at the High Court.

Jon Platt was fined by Isle of Wight Council after he took his family on the holiday, which included a visit to Disney World, without permission from his child's school.

The ruling raises the prospect of similar challenges from parents of children in English state schools, for which tightened rules on authorised absences were introduced by the government in 2013.

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Dad wins landmark term-time holidays case

The High Court has ruled in favour of a father who took his daughter out of school to go on holiday.

Jon Platt refused to pay £120 for taking his six-year-old to Disney World Florida last year and because of her regular attendance, Isle of Wight magistrates ruled he had no case to answer.

But the council asked the High Court to rule on whether taking a seven-day absence amounts to regular attendance.

The ruling raises the prospect of similar challenges from parents of children in English state schools, for which tightened rules on authorised absences were introduced by the government in 2013.

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