A COUPLE have spoken out after being slapped with a £640 fine for taking their children to Disney World during term time – despite their school being closed.

NHS worker Francesca Longhurst and plasterer Liam Longhurst, from Sandwell in the West Midlands, took their two children to the Disney park in Florida earlier this year.

A couple was slapped with a £640 fine for taking their kids to Disney World during school time Credit: Jam Press

Francesca and Liam Longhurst say they don’t regret taking the dream holiday Credit: Jam Press

The couple saved for years to take 11-year-old Lily and six-year-old George on the two-week trip of a lifetime in June.

But they faced major repercussions around two months after the magical holiday, when they received notice of the £640 penalty in August.

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Francesca and Liam were fined £120 per parent, per child – meaning they had £640 to pay, Jam Press reports.

During the children’s time away, the school faced closures due to hot weather.

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“The school was also closed or open partially due to the heatwave so we are being fined for our kids being off school when others were allowed because it was too hot,” Francesca pointed out.

Despite the hefty payout, the couple feel that taking the children out of school for the trip was worth it.

Admitting that they have “no regrets”, Francesca explained that the price of the trip and the fine combined is still less than it would cost to go during the school holidays.

“It was a holiday we have dreamed of for years but never thought we’d be able to afford it as it’s so expensive,” Francesca said.

“We put every but of money we had spare into this trip and works extra hours and days to be able to afford it. To be able to take our kids on this once-in-a-lifetime trip was so magical.

“We went in term time in June because the price is triple the cost to go during the holidays.

“I priced up for Easter holidays and the holiday was coming to £12,000 just for the flights and hotel – and that’s without park tickets on top,” she added.

The family’s term-time Disney trip cost around £7,500 overall – with £3,000 spent on flights and accommodation and a whopping £4,500 spent on park tickets.

Francesca has called the penalty for taking children out of school for holidays “ridiculous” and says that families should not be punished for saving money.

“The fines are ridiculous but what’s more atrocious is that if we did this again within a three-year-period we could be prosecuted and sent to prison for child neglect, when all we have done is taken our children on holiday.

“Every child deserves a holiday but not every parent can afford to go during school time. The amount is what it is – it’s a small price to pay compared to what we saved by going in the school holidays, but I’d love to know where the money goes to,” she continued.

Responding to the criticism over the policy, a Sandwell Council spokesperson said: “We recognise that there is financial pressure on families and term-time holidays may be tempting. But attendance at school is vitally important for children to reach their potential, and to gain the skills and qualifications that will give them the best start in life and the best future.

“Like all councils across the country, we work with schools to implement Government policy on unauthorised absence.”