EDUCATION bosses in Keighley and Bradford districts say a court decision that parents cannot take children out of school during term-time gives “renewed confidence” they are taking the right approach.

Five Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled against father Jon Platt who took his daughter to Disney World during school term-time, in a decision which is widely expected to have a major impact on schools and parents across the country.

Mr Platt had been fined a sum of £120.

In a judgment clarifying what “regular” school attendance means, the country’s top judges allowed an appeal by the Isle of Wight education chiefs against an earlier court ruling that Mr Platt had not acted unlawfully.

Bradford Council has handed out 4,985 education penalty notices in the 2015-16 academic year, which is the third highest number in the country.

The number has been steadily rising in recent years as the authority toughens its stance.

Judith Kirk, the council’s deputy director for education, employment and skills, said: “A child’s absence during term time disrupts their teaching and learning and this can have an impact on their progress, attainment and ultimately their life chances.

“We aim to minimise the amount of time lost to term-time leave through a policy which discourages parents from arranging family holidays and trips abroad and supports schools to only authorise such absences in exceptional circumstances.

“It is for school head teachers to determine if the requests for leave of absence are reasonable.

"Each request should be judged on a case-by-case basis.

“We had not changed our approach as a result of earlier court decisions involving Mr Platt and the Isle of Wight Council.

“The outcome of the Supreme Court ruling in the council’s favour gives us renewed confidence that the approach we are taking is the right one.”

Councillor Debbie Davies, the Bradford Conservative group’s education spokesman, said: “When parents send their children to school they know what the rules are.

“I do have sympathy with families, but having children attend school when they are meant to is best for them, best for families and best for the schools.”