Fines for parents who take their children out of school for holidays during term time are “here to stay”, according to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

She told BBC Newsnight: “Children not being in school doesn't just have an impact on those individual children, it means that teachers often have to recover material because children have missed out.”

In August, the fines are due to rise from £60 per child to £80 per child for every five days taken absent from school.

However, as inflation and high costs of living make peak-season holidays increasingly expensive, many parents report it being a “no-brainer” to accept the fine, rather than pay for a premium-priced getaway.

Lizzie Harwood, of the Association of Christian Teachers told Premier Christian Radio: “We are seeing a significant number of children not in school. Some of those children will be suffering because of that. It does have an impact on their academic progress.

“Persistent absence has a real impact on their social and emotional development, and that can cause long-term harm. It can damage their future prospects, and be a safeguarding risk.

“As Christians, if we have the benefit and the blessing of education in our society  – of incredible quality no matter how much we bemoan the underfunding. Christian parents, although we don’t want to be legalistic, should honour that responsibility that we have to our child’s education.”

However, she recognises a need for families to have flexibility:

“Fines, generally, don’t seem to work. It doesn’t have the impact we would hope. I think we need to be more imaginative, so families, if they need to, can take some time off if their children have high attendance generally.”