Parents who take their children on half-term holidays to amber list destinations look likely to avoid fines for missing school during quarantine by receiving online learning instead.
The i newspaper reported that education sources said quarantine rules had created a legal “grey area” for children missing school without permission – “but that online learning would be used to avoid parents receiving fines”.
The newspaper reported: “The government and schools are reluctant to pursue fines for non-attendance after a trip abroad, for fear it could undermine the quarantine system.
“The news that Spain is lifting restrictions to UK travellers from Monday (May 24) has fuelled concerns there could be a surge in tourists flocking to the country over half-term, which starts next Friday May 28.”
Spain is currently on the UK’s amber list, meaning families returning to England after a trip there must self-isolate at home for 10 days, at the start of the next half-term.
Other popular tourist destinations such as France, Italy and Greece are also on the list.
One unnamed headteacher told i his biggest concern was “families travelling and not telling school – sending students back in without isolation”.
i understands the most likely solution is schools providing remote teaching to children while they complete their quarantine.