Call off the courts: Devon urged to stop prosecutions against parents taking kids out of school
Parents facing prosecution in Devon for taking their children out of school should have their cases dropped immediately - that's the blunt message tonight from the leader of the opposition group on the local authority.>Today (25 May) two parents were due to be in court over their refusal to pay a fine for taking their children out of school. >But that's now been adjourned while the Council waits for guidance following a recent High Court judgement which found in favour of parents.
Emma Clarke was hoping for the opportunity to have her offence thrown out, but instead Devon County Council simply postponed her hearing.
She feels, along with the leader of the opposition group of the council that all proceedings should simply be dropped.>Last May, she and husband were granted permission to take their boys, Alfie and Freddie to Cyprus for their wedding. >In the next academic year, at the start of term, permission was refused when they took their sons on a short break before Emma returned to work full time and the family was fined.
The Clarkes' have been in touch with Jon Platt on the Isle of Wight whose similar case was tested in the High Court which ruled that the overall school attendance hadn't been taken into account, and like the Platts their sons attendance records were over 90%. >READ MORE:
Given the law doesn't apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland - it's likely to be fully reviewed. Devon County Council's decision to adjourn makes little sense to campaigners. >They recognise the recent High Court case shouldn't lead to families simply booking low cost family holidays at their convenience, but an online petition has prompted a debate on the issue in Parliament to be held just before MPs take their Summer break .