Mum's defiant five word response as she hits back at term-time holiday critics

Leanne Bray has just arrived back in the UK after jetting off on an unauthorised family holiday to Benidorm, days after children went back to school in September

A defiant mum-of-five has hit back at critics after she defied new government fines by whisking her children away for a term-time holiday.

Leanne Bray, from Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, explained that off-peak getaways were a necessity due to her kids' special needs. Freshly back in England after jetting off to Benidorm shortly after schools kicked off the autumn term, Leanne's trip flouted freshly-tightened rules that have hiked penalties from £60 to £80 for each child, with parents potentially footing the bill twice over.

Undeterred, Leanne confidently said she'll continue to take term-time getaways to protest against what she regards as "outdated" Department for Education policies. Firing back at critics, she insists she has zero remorse about her act of defiance and so far, hasn't been slapped with a fine.

"We've had no fines as of yet, but I'm not holding my breath," she told Birmingham Live. "Sometimes it can take the school a few weeks to catch up. I expect to get a fine, but I will fight it."

Earlier in the year, Leanne had already stood her ground in court when Solihull Council prosecuted her for escaping to Lanzarote during school days in February. The case was one of the driving factors in Leanne's decision to home-school her four youngest children.

Leanne has declared that increased fines won't stop her from taking her kids out of school for holidays, as she said: "I've four children who are home-schooled, and if they get a break then so should my daughter." Her stance garnered mixed reactions from BirminghamLive readers after her story was shared. Addressing the critics, Leanne said: "There's always going to be people who disagree with me."

She continued to challenge the system, adding: "The majority of the rules I will follow, but in my opinion some are tedious, outdated and unrealistic. Personally, I want my family to be able to enjoy themselves from time to time so I have no regrets."

Leanne emphasised her parental rights, saying: "They're my children and if I want to take them away so they can learn about new cultures, then I have a right to do so. I think that's more beneficial to my children than sitting in a classroom where they're not getting the support they need anyhow."

Undeterred by potential legal action, she revealed: "We're already looking at bookings for next year - these changes won't stop me. Once I hit my third strike, I'll be sent straight to court, but I'm not afraid." Leanne concluded with a call to action: "I think more people need to stand up for what they believe in. To me, family time is so important and the more people that push the boundaries, the more they'll have to look at changing the rules."

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has sounded the alarm over an "absence epidemic" in England's schools, accusing some parents of being too laid-back about letting their children miss school for trivial reasons such as holidays, birthdays, or even a minor cold. In a bid to tackle the issue, the Department for Education has introduced a strict penalty system for truancy, with parents facing an £80 fine if paid within 21 days, increasing to £160 if not settled on time, starting from this academic year.