TWO FAMILIES have been fined nearly £900 each because they took their children on holiday during school time.

Julie Parrish, for North Yorkshire Education Authority said both sets of parents had been told before they left home that they didn't have permission to take their youngsters out of school and that the holidays could not be taken during term time.

But both families ignored the headteacher's warning and their children were not at school for more than a week.

Between them, the four children missed 30 days of education.

None of the parents attended York Magistrates Court when they were summonsed to answer for their actions. They are not being named to protect their children.

Magistrates convicted all three in their absence of not ensuring that their children attended school.

A mother and father who took their two children of infant and junior class age out of school for eight days each were fined £330 each and each was ordered to pay £75 prosecution costs and a £33 statutory surcharge.

A mother who took her two children, also of infant and junior class age, out of school for seven days each was fined £660 with £150 prosecution costs and a £66 statutory surcharge.

All the children go to school in Selby.

Ms Parrish said both sets of parents had been fined £60 by the school on their return from holiday. They didn't pay, despite warning letters, so the county council decided to prosecute them.

The unauthorised holidays were taken last summer.

None of the parents sent any explanation to the court why they ignored the school's warning and taken their children out of school.