An influencer family has reportedly been fined after taking some of their kids out of school to travel to Disney World earlier this year.
Noel and Sue Radford made the trek to Orlando, Florida, in April. The couple shared a series of photos from their trip, which included meeting characters, watching the parade and trying the themed-cuisine.
Months later, local outlet LancsLive reported that the family was fined for their children not having regular attendance at school between March 24 and May 1. Per the court, the Preston Magistrates Court charged £65, about $84, per child and £118, about $155, to cover court costs.
The fine comes one year after the U.K.’s Department for Education created the policy for parents taking their children out of school, noting that good attendance equated to greater overall wellbeing and academic performance.
“There are only a few occasions where a child is allowed to miss school, such as illness or where the school has given permission because of an exceptional circumstance,” the department wrote in 2024. “However, if your child misses school without a good reason, local councils and schools can intervene and you may be issued a fine.”
Parents can be issued fans from legal councils and schools, as well as be given parenting orders, education supervision orders or a school attendance order.
“Ensuring young people receive a good education and have a good start in life is one of our key priorities,” a Lancashire County Council spokesperson told LancsLive. “Evidence shows that attainment is linked to attendance, so supporting our schools with this issue is important.”
The statement continued, “The decision to authorize absence or not rests with the headteacher of the particular school and Penalty Notices are an enforcement option that are available to local authorities, if requested by schools. It is the court that determines whether a fine should be issued.”
The message noted that the laws on attendance are “very clear,” adding that there are “some legitimate reasons why pupils can’t always go to school.”
“We always encourage schools to work closely with parents to reduce unauthorised absences and our aim is to ensure that children and young people attend school and receive a good education,” the statement concluded.
The Radford family rose to fame online with a 2012 U.K. docuseries 15 Kids and Counting. Noel and Sue announced in 2024 that 22 Kids and Counting would be coming back on screen that year.
The couple share 22 children ranging in age from 5 to 36 as well as 13 grandchildren. In an August clip from their series, Sue explained that her marriage to Noel is “very simple” because they do not share children with any other partners.
“I just can’t even imagine, if we split up and you got in a new relationship and you said to your new partner, ‘Oh, is it alright if my kids come around?’ … We’re sticking with each other really, aren’t we? We’ve got too much baggage,” Noel said in the Instagram video as Sue laughed.
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