Parents SHOULD be fined for taking children on holiday during term time says LEE BOYCE - here's three ideas to help families have a cheaper break

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

For a while, there has been a war brewing at the school gates. It involves parents who feel they can only afford a holiday with children if they do it during term time and the Government and councils, which can fine them for doing just that.
Last year, nearly half a million school holiday fines were dished out in England, according to the Department for Education. That was up 24 per cent on the previous year and has tripled within a decade.
Last August, these fines became even stronger. The minimum fine for parents who take their children out of school in term time without permission went up to £80 per parent and failure to pay within 21 days doubled to £160.
With the increase in numbers fined and the cost comes angst from parents, who let's face it, do deserve a break. Now, the situation is set to be debated in Parliament.
That's because a petition urging the right for parents to remove kids from school for 10 days has amassed nearly 200,000 signatures.
The petition reads: 'We're seeking reform to the punitive policy for term time leave that disproportionately impacts families that are already under immense pressure and criminalises parents that we think are making choices in the best interests of their families. No family should face criminal convictions.'
It then adds: 'We are calling for reform of legislation on taking children out of school urgently.'
That amount of time, in my opinion, is extreme. It'll also fail to garner sympathy from the generation above who will say: we never had this problem in our day.
Although ask many of today's parents and they will definitely remember their own parents taking them out of school on the odd occasion.
But growing numbers of families say the cost of a holiday during the summer peak is a problem.
I know the pain. With a daughter in year one of primary school, I was braced for pricier holidays – but have been taken aback by just how much more expensive trips are.
As someone, who before children would push for a March break and a September one, the difference in cost is astonishing. However, it is a simple case of supply and demand – that's how the world of money and services work.
Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, has previously vowed to tackle the 'epidemic of school absence'.
Some of the problem involves persistent absence, child mental health issues, unofficial home schooling, but a large chunk is linked to holidays.
This in turn is connected to schools being shut during the Covid pandemic, with teacher strikes soon after.
The former head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, saying the social contract between parents and schools was broken.
And in its response to the petition, the Government said: 'We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity by supporting every child to achieve and thrive at school, working with parents and protecting children's right to education. On holidays in particular, we understand that some parents wish to avoid peak periods.
'However, the school year is structured in such a way as to provide plenty of time throughout the year for holidays outside of term-time, and schools also have considerable flexibility to plan term dates themselves, and hold inset days and other occasional days at less busy times of the year.'
A recent survey suggested more than half of families are prepared to take child out of school during term time to save money, despite the risk of a fine.
Many just absorb any potential fine to the cost of the trip, and still argue they save money. That's certainly the vibe I get from many parents at my daughter's school and from family members and friends.
My personal viewpoint is that holidays are vitally important for families to properly bond, have quality time together and also, typically, children learn from them. Not everything is taught in a classroom.
That might be picking up some of the local lingo, getting confident in the swimming pool, visiting historical sites, making friendships with other children and even playing games like Uno with plenty of laughter and happiness with parents, who are often juggling work commitments, and don't always give their children every oodle of attention required.
So then you might be surprised to learn I refuse to take my daughter out of school during term time.
That's because ultimately, I don't think it sets a good example for life; that you can simply take time off when you want.
It's also not great for teachers who are then responsible for your child to play catch-up.
I do understand though the need for a holiday and not paying over the odds. But there is also an element where parents should take responsibility and plan.
For example, we're heading to Centre Parcs this Friday for a long weekend. Have we had to remortgage? No.
We saw there were two inset days in the school calendar more than a year ago, and booked at a very good price well in advance at a place where our children can try new experiences and activities.
We also set a reminder for when flights to Barbados were available for the October 2025 half-term, booked a hotel on Booking.com with free cancellation and managed to get the entire trip for the week, in a 4* hotel with interconnecting rooms for £4,000 for four of us a year in advance. That would be nearly double if booked now.
Three ideas to fix school holidays
It's clear something needs to change to help appease parents, keep headteachers calm and stop the truancy - and I fully understand not all families can afford a £4,000 holiday.
Here's three potential options:
1. Give each child two sabbaticals during their primary school life, and two in secondary school.
Parents must book it with at least three months' notice and take with them any learning materials from the teacher to keep children them on track.
2. Reduce the summer holidays by a week and let parents bolt it on to October, February or May half-term dates as they see fit.
This will help smooth out demand and give parents the option to go away, cheaper, without the guilt and need to manipulate the system.
3. The Government starts a scheme where families are given a free return train ticket to use in any of the breaks from school to anywhere they choose in Britain once a year.
This would help boost the UK economy with more people choosing to holiday at home, be greener and give our children more of a flavour of the beautiful spots that are on our doorstep, but have been overlooked for somewhere more exotic because of price.
How would you solve the problem of children being taken out of school during term time? Get in touch: [e-mail]