Parents who take their children out of school to go on holiday could face a penalty fine of �100 under the government's Anti-Social Behaviour Act. Ministers says such holidays should be the exception, not the rule, as they interfere with a child's education.
A survey by Teletext holidays indicates that up to 1 in 5 parents will ignore the threat of a �100 fine because peak-holiday season prices during official term-time are too expensive.
Headteachers have the discretion to allow up to 10 days off for holidays - but only in exceptional circumstances.
Should parents face a fine for taking their children out of school? Are the holiday companies to blame for high prices during school holidays? Should headteachers be responsible for policing parents?
This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.
Your comments:
The current 10 day rule is sensible, leave well alone. Children learn from travel and family life as well.
Gerry, Scotland
Not all education happens in the classroom. A week or two experiencing other places and other cultures never hurt any child's education. So, here's a radical idea, get them to write and talk about it to the rest of the class.
Chris Newman, Lowestoft
My parents regularly took myself and my brother out of school in term time. When I was at school, (I left 14 years ago) it was a regular occurrence, as long as you had the head's agreement, there was no problem. It seems strange that this has been raised now, when as far so I'm concerned it been happening for years. It never did us any harm, I am now a Finance Manager and my brother is a nurse. The government needs to look at the real truants and bullying issues before fining parents for taking their children on holiday.
Rachael, Nottingham
 |  People assume it's a human right to go abroad for a holiday  |
I see no problem with parents being fined. The trouble is people assume it's a human right to go abroad for a holiday. During my childhood I went abroad once with parents, all my other holidays were day trips to various UK resorts. Has not going abroad made me narrow minded with regards to other cultures? No. I speak several languages and spend a lot of time abroad. I suspect that a lot of people going to Spain or wherever stick to English speaking restaurants, bars and hotels.
Al Smith, Cardiff, Wales What's suddenly wrong with the present system? I fail to see how a week or two off in exceptional circumstances is a major problem. Another government money grabbing scheme.
Harry, Acton, UK
As a travel agent, I would like to point out that we do not set the prices - these are set by the airlines, hotels and rental companies. They set their prices based on supply and demand - the same pricing scheme which makes phone calls more expensive during the day and train/bus tickets more expensive during rush hour. Don't blame us for something we don't control.
Anonymous
I guess this is more about improving absence statistics by going for the easy targets, i.e. families who reveal that they are going on holiday. Much easier to hit these people than intransigent truanting. Watch the level of sickness absence rise instead!
Ann Smith, UK
| My wife and I frequently had to organise family holidays in school time |
My work does not fit into the highly ordered and regulated school timetable. As a result, my wife and I frequently had to organise family holidays in school time. Of course, we considered carefully the timing of our holiday decisions, so as not to interrupt important events such as examinations. Holiday costs were not particularly a consideration, but there is certainly a big premium to pay in the high season. Currently our two children are both at university, so I would be interested to see the definitive evidence that controlled absence such as we managed has any long lasting affects. Regards
Michael Wright, France How many days do I have to take off work each year due to teacher training days and strikes? I'll take my kids on holiday as and when I feel it appropriate and no-one is going to tell me otherwise!
Andy Green, Plymouth, UK
It seems that we think we have a "right" to a holiday every year abroad. Is there any harm in having a cheap holiday at home and saving for the following year for the sake of our children's education? But we live in days which say we must have everything NOW and thus the virtue of patients seems all but irrelevant.
Tristan Watson, Haywards Heath, England
To the people saying that two weeks out didn't or can't affect their children's education - how do you know? Do you check each time what the curriculum is - do you arrange for your children to receive extra tutoring for what they have missed? Is money worth the possibility of your child dropping a grade because they missed something essential in the curriculum?
Katherine, London, UK
In principal, I think it's a great idea to fine parents who consistently take their children out of school for term-time holidays. However, my partner and I are nurses, and last year couldn't get a weeks leave at the same time, save one in mid-September. So it was a choice of no holiday for the kids, or take them out of school for a week. If parents are to be fined, individual extenuating circumstances need to be considered.
Jonathan Ford, Belper, Derbyshire
Teachers do a great job in the face of unreasonable external pressure. But the teacher is not the only one responsible for a child's education - so are the parents and the child! To suggest that time in class is the only time for learning is a failure to understand the human mind. We can learn everywhere anytime - setting time aside dedicated to learning has had a negative effect on our ability to learn!
Stewart, Lancashire, UK
Attempting to fine parents who take their kids out of school for a family holiday would be funny were it not so sinister. The electorate will merely refuse to pay such fines. This type of government dictatorship which blights every aspect of our daily lives needs to be stopped. The British electorate needs to take control of it's politicians!
Brian Langfield, Yorkshire, UK I do not take my kids out of school and never will. However, the government should legislate against the holiday companies who are ripping law abiding families off. In addition teachers get a good wage, and plenty of time off. Why do they need inset days?! Yes their holidays are fixed, but they get plenty of them!
Alistair, Wakefield
| Deal with the real problems: drugs, bullying and habitual absenteeism |
No, but the fine is cheaper than the cost of going on holiday during school holidays. Our kids have travelled all over the world with us; we don't just go to the beaches. What they learn about different cultures, history and nature can't be taught in the class. Holiday companies are just cashing in on a lucrative window of opportunity. Stop pushing the Nanny state. Deal with the real problems: drugs, bullying and habitual absenteeism.
Charles, Oxford
It is parent's responsibility to decide when to take children on holiday not politicians. Variable term times should be adopted so that school holidays are at different times. Fines are just another form of taxation. It is time the people rejected all politicians.
V J Patel, Twickenham, England
I think it is dreadful when children are taken out of school to go away on holiday. It totally interferes with their education. I understand that holidays are much cheaper in term time but that doesn't mean it is acceptable for parents to take their children out of school. Children get enough time off school anyway! The teachers are not allowed term time off so why should children!
Louise, UK
Unfortunately the holiday companies do not care for you or your holiday all they care for is pure profit otherwise they would make their prices affordable to every working class family in Britain during school holiday time. Ok fine the parents but fine the travel agents too �1000 per occurrence - the prices would soon fall.
Stephen James, Manchester, UK
No way! If a parent wants to take their child out of term time what's to stop them. Unless of course they are missing GCSE exams or something, but isn't school just to educate children. Besides holidays in term time can cost up to �500 cheaper! So the �100 fine just makes it �400 cheaper instead, still a better holiday!
Bekah Atkins, Birmingham, UK
It would take a much bigger fine than �100 to dissuade parents from holidaying in term time. The savings to be made by avoiding school holiday periods are well in excess of this sum.
Lesley-Anne, West London
I think the rule is fine as it is. I went on a couple of holidays during term time, each case they were growth/educational experiences usually near the end of term anyway. My parents made me catch up with work. E.g. Holidays to France to practice French, visiting the graveyards of WWI at Somme and Ypres to give me an edge in history. To take away a parents' responsibilities and assign them to the state instead has shades of 1984.
Ian, New Orleans (Originally UK)
I feel that parents should be allowed 2 weeks per year when they can take their children out of school, but only if they inform the head teacher of their intentions in good time. This idea would be best reserved for primary school children only. Also holiday companies need to lower their prices during school holiday times to encourage more people to travel then. Not every parent is able to have their holidays when schools are off, some are on a rota basis.
Mrs Wilkes, Keighley
So the Nanny state now wants to dictate which time of the year our family holidays should take place, absolutely pathetic, is this Great Britain or communist Russia? There is pressure on parents too, what if they can't get the time off during the six - week summer holiday, does that mean that a family cannot go on holiday in case a child misses a week or two from school? If this Government is so keen for the stable family life, with parents spending more quality time with their kids, then they should promote flexibility in this case.
Darren Hurley, Bristol, UK
I do not believe that there should be fines involved when time is taken off for holidays. It is often very difficult for parents to get time off work, imagine the surprise of a �100 fine awaiting them after a much needed holiday!
Ben D, Winchester, England
For some parents the only affordable way for a family holiday is out of the normal term time. This is due pure and simply to the greed of airlines who load on massive price increases at the holiday season. Travellers from Scotland are treated the worst, having to pay ludicrous surcharges to thieving airlines who are too mean to lay on flights for anywhere other than Heathrow or Manchester. In many cases the aircraft flies back over the same area in Scotland that the passengers come from on its way abroad.
Charlie, Scotland
Why should parents be allowed to damage their child's education for financial reasons? Lets be honest, two weeks of schooling covers an awful lot of information no matter what level of schooling a child is in. If you have children you have a responsibility to ensure they receive the best education they possibly can. I never took my daughter out of school for holidays. I think any responsible parent would look at available holiday options and maybe go for the affordable (albeit maybe not the ideal) holiday during holiday time.
Chris Healey, Plymouth UK
Another fine, another stick to beat people with, nothing must get in the way of nurturing our future workforce.
Joe Watson, Brighton England
School holidays are long enough for any family to arrange a holiday. Children should not be allowed any more time from school as this both affects them and the other pupils.
John Holmes,
| Since when has a cheap foreign holiday been someone's "right"? |
What is going on in this country? Since when has a cheap foreign holiday been someone's "right"? Whether you have children or not, if you can't afford it... tough! The fact that the price goes up during school holidays is simply dictated by market forces, which living in a capitalist society we are all responsible for - the higher the demand the more people have to pay! It's a fact of life!
Monkey, UK
I hope parents who wish to take children out of school for cheap holidays will extend the same privilege to teachers and their children.
Paul B, London UK
Doesn't this ring a little too close to George Orwell's BIG BROTHER? We're constantly tug-of-warring these same issues in the states over reasonable freedom to raise our own children.
VE Wright, Boston, US
A �100 fine is not enough to deter people �200 or more would be far better. Parents need to be educated and kids should go to school.
D Kendall, Canterbury UK
| It is also very valuable to spend time out in the wide world |
I appreciate all the teachers do, and encourage my children to work hard at school. But school is only part of the story. It is also very valuable to spend time out in the wide world, under the close and loving supervision that is not possible in a class of 30-plus. I feel no qualms in giving my children 'extra' holidays (read learning opportunities) and would fight to defend this right.
Sarah Finch, Reigate, UK
Only parents who take their children on holiday without the School's consent should be fined. Personally, as the father of 3 kids, I elected never to take them out of school at all, but I can understand why other did so. Also, my parents never took me out of school, and I do not feel that I was deprived at all.
John Atkins, Bridgwater, England
I can see no problem with removing children from school for a week or two as long as the children are doing well at school and are not yet studying for GCSEs. Of course agreement should be made between the parents and the school prior to the holiday. The idea of imposing a ban on this, and possibly fines too, is utterly ridiculous.
Kulu, Basingstoke, UK
Whether the child may or may not fall behind is not the point. The fundamental problem today is that parents have no respect for schools and teachers. If parents think it is OK to take children out of school for a holiday, then the message to the child is that school isn't really that important. I agree with the principal of fining people for breaking the law, but �100 is far too low to make any difference.
Ian, Bucks, UK
Whilst I tend to agree with the fining policy, can parents expect �100 rebates each time their children's education is 'disrupted' by teachers going on strike, inset days (a growing plague) and days off by their usual teacher that disrupts their stability to a far greater extent?
Adam Harris, UK
| Maybe the government should focus on delivering an education system worth enduring |
Maybe the government should focus on delivering an education system worth enduring, or schools that are safe to go to, before casting around diktats on when we can take our hols. Disgust with the whole rotten system encouraged me to pull my kids out of school and join the 50,000 UK families that no longer trust the system and educate at home. It's tough, but at least I know my kids will be able to read and write when they go out into the world.
Mike, London
This is another piece of political nonsense which will go away once Blair and co feel they've got all they can from it. Mind you the Tories are just as bad - look at the whole disaster called the National Curriculum. Ordinary people will carry on doing their best for their kids - and this includes deciding for themselves when to take a holiday.
Nick, UK
This plan is not fair. The head teacher of my child school, have already sent a letter that she will not authorise any holiday during term time. She even did not want to talk to any parent, obviously �100 fine from each student will make a good money for school?!
Kati Sarab, London UK
Different districts should stagger the school holidays to reduce the premiums holiday companies try and charge
Roo, Ex pat in San Diego
The only reason why Head teachers are bothered about term time holidays is because it reflects badly on the performance of the School in league tables. Unfortunately, we are not all blessed with 12 weeks holiday per year unlike teachers/heads!
Dominic Gasson, Worthing, UK
I have great sympathy with parents who want to do this - having four kids meant that the best we could ever do during the very expensive school holiday periods was a tent or caravan. Is there no way the school year couldn't be made more flexible - there's been enough talk about it.
Robin Saltonstall, Beverley, England
As a teacher I agree holidays are to expensive in the holiday time, but it's tough. Parents say they don't mind their child missing a weeks worth of education for a holiday. Would they be so charitable if it was a teacher taking a week off to avoid the high prices? I think not.
Dan, Dorking, Surrey
What on earth are parents complaining about? When I was at school no-one ever took time out during term time. These people who think they can do what they like would be the first people to complain about standards in education. If you take education seriously you attend school, simple as that.
Rosemary Hill, Milton Keynes UK
Why change the 10-day discretion rule Head teachers have? We might have forgotten that something call Home Study still exists in this country. i.e. Parents are allowed to teach their children at home if they want to subject to meeting certain standards.
Ed, UK
| If the holiday companies stopped victimising those of us with school age children then parents would of course stop going on holiday during term time |
If the holiday companies stopped victimising those of us with school age children then parents would of course stop going on holiday during term time - (although I do think travelling and experiencing different cultures is also an important part of a child's education). The government should intervene on this and make travel companies offer the same price on out of term holidays. Its discrimination against families.
Anon, Surrey
I consider attendance for my daughter in playschool to be very important. This will continue throughout her school life, however for a child in primary school I can't see a major problem taking them out for a special holiday. It's not a responsibility for the government. They have other things to focus on.
Susan Lockey, Northumberland
No! It is a parental responsibility and most parents come to an arrangement with the school. Those that don't are the perennial problems anyway. Let's have less nanny state and more personal responsibility.
George, Chelmsford
Why can't something be done to stop companies 'ripping off' parents at holiday periods. When looking at brochure prices I only have to scan down at the sudden price surges to know when school is out!
John Harris, England
| I cannot possibly believe that one or two weeks out of a whole year at Primary or lower Secondary school will result in an adverse affect on a child's education |
This is just another way for the government to wheedle more money out of people. Of course it is not a good idea for parents to take their children out of school during or leading up to exams. However, I cannot possibly believe that one or two weeks out of a whole year at Primary or lower Secondary school will result in such an adverse affect on a child's education that it cannot be rectified by 'catch up' study.
Sophie, Oxford
If term-time holidays had been banned when I was a child, I'd never had gone on holiday. If you're only away for a week or two a year, I don't think it makes the slightest difference to the education system - all children will find it simple to catch up. The only effect it would have is that holidays outside term-time would become even more expensive than they are now.
Pip, Yorks, UK
| Such is the pace of the curriculum, missing a week of school can mean missing a whole topic |
My wife is a secondary school History teacher. Such is the pace of the curriculum, missing a week of school can mean missing a whole topic which could possibly come up as a question at GCSE exam time. This could lead to the student gaining a grade lower than expected as they don't have the knowledge to complete the paper. Parents who take their children out of school must at least acknowledge this and not blame the school/teacher when 'little Jimmy' doesn't get the grades they hoped for.
Ken, North Tyneside
It should be up to the school to prove that a child's education has been disrupted by being taken on holiday during term time. If the school can't prove this then the parents should not be fined.
Andrew Morrison, Warwick, UK
From an American point of view, I would be outraged about this. What right does the Government have to tell me how to raise my kids? I realized the folks in UK look at their Government differently then we do in the US - but this is crossing the line.
Mike Daly, Hackettstown, NJ -USA
As a child I had two such term time holidays (one to France and one travelling the US) I can guarantee that I learned more than I would have in school and it certainly didn't hurt my education (State school and Oxford educated!) Everything is a balance and the nanny state should realise whose balance it is - the child and parents in question!
ST, Scotland
You can't stop families taking THEIR children on holiday in term time. For a start it is so much cheaper and also going on holiday, especially abroad is a learning experience in itself. It will be a big restriction on freedom if we start to penalise people for going on holiday!
Neil, Nottingham
I agree. Fine the parents who take children out of school just to benefit from off-peak prices. But also fine the travel companies for charging such absolute rip-off prices in the first place.
Philip Le Roux, Hampshire England
We will soon have to get permission from the State for everything we do. We won't be allowed to go on holiday, change jobs, marry who we want, live where we want, raise children the way we want or vote the way we want to. And we are due to have a whole level of society monitoring the activities of every one else. Fines will be issued whenever these people think that we have done something wrong (or when they want more income!). Britain will soon make communist Russia look like a holiday camp.
Michael Dean, Brentwood, UK
As a headteacher I have every sympathy with parents who struggle to afford a family holiday. Apart from times which clash with statutory assessments or the beginning of a new school year I am normally prepared to authorise up to ten school days leave of absence for a family holiday. I do not agree, however, that the school then has a duty to provide "extra work" for the child. If parents choose to take their children out of school they must accept responsibility for that choice. Unfortunately, not all parents are content with a fortnight's holiday (which represents approximately 5% of the school year. When children are kept away from school for "winter breaks", "long weekends" and trips away with grandparents in addition to the ten days this can mount up and become seriously detrimental to the child's education.
Phil Moncur, Batley, West Yorkshire People seem to be missing the point. You can still take holidays in term time with the permission of the school. I have never been refused permission but I would not take my children out of school during their GCSE years. One week every 2 or 3 years is nothing to make up.
Bridget, Cambridge, England
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Tony Blair return his kids to school late after a Christmas holiday abroad. But now he wants to punish others for doing the same ! He should spend his time sorting out why holiday costs spiral when the school holidays come along.
Andy , Bristol, UK
Yes they should be fined. Comments about the standard of teaching and education being lower is ridiculous. My teachers at school were fantastic I admit and some of the restrictions on the teachers now is a little harsh, but the standard hasn't dropped. As for going on holiday during term, that's just stupid on the parents' part. Taking a child out of their education even for two weeks can have a massive effect, especially for GCSE kids. If you take a holiday during term time you are bound to save over the �100 pounds penalty it would cost anyway, so yes, charge them �100. I'm sure as hell, when I have kids, they will not be on holiday during term time!
Simon, Crewe
| I wish the Government would understand what the real World is like |
If I asked my boss to have holidays only during the school holidays he would laugh - and I would understand. In our business this is the busiest time of the year and so we only have holidays outside of the normal holiday period. I understand the problem over term-time holidays, however I have no choice whatsoever. I wish the Government would understand what the real World is like!!
Joe Lloyd, Blackpool People who think a trip to Disney World or another family amusement venue provides no educational value are sorely mistaken. Amusement parks offer a very unique way to study the laws of physics, technical creativity, marketing, maths, engineering, and so much more. What's more, Cedar Point in Ohio even offers sample lesson plans for teachers or parents to download off their site and Disney World in Florida offers classes in a variety of subjects in-house (life management, humanities, and physical science to name a few). So parents CAN provide their kids with a valid learning experience while on holiday!
Christine, Royal Oak, MI, USA
Yes, they most certainly should be banned. I get forced by my company to have to take holidays in "term time" since all the parents get priority in the main summertime to be with the poor little darlings. Consequently when I go on holiday the last thing I want is hordes of screaming brats running around shrieking their heads off. Fines should be increased to a level which the middle classes can't afford - �1-2000.
Stu , London, England
| As parents we have the legal responsibility to educate our children |
Enough about the family rights already! Where are the responsibilities? As parents we have the legal responsibility to educate our children. If we choose to do so through the state schooling system (as most do), then we must send our children to school during the designated term times. A holiday abroad is not a good reason to remove children from school. It is good old supply & demand that increases prices during school holidays, not gouging by tour operators.
Jan, UK Let's be completely honest about this. Do you really, honestly believe that taking your children out of school for one or two weeks will seriously impact on their education. No? Me neither. There are obvious exceptions, like during, or just prior to GCSEs or A levels. Aside from these periods I think your children could cope, mine do. Perhaps we should take this a level further; parents who actively encourage their children, who teach them to read before they start school, who buy them SATS revision aids and go through them with their children making sure they understand, could earn education credits allowing them to take days off during term time. Daft idea? Probably, but it would likely be more beneficial to the children and is no more daft then this �100 fine proposal. There is a world of difference between parents who neglect their children's' education, and parents whose only hope of having a family holiday is to go in term time.
Kevin, Liverpool, UK
When did it become acceptable for the authorities to be so prescriptive about how we bring up our children? Most people would accept a good education for our children is necessary but how that is done should be decided by the parents.
John, Norwich
When I was at school I also belonged to a children's choir. We travelled abroad to give concerts and attend international competitions, which meant taking time off school. I was never seriously behind with my school work and never struggled passing exams, but gained some amazing experiences that I wouldn't swap for anything. As someone has already said, the odd week over a child's education period is hardly going to do any harm in the long term but may provide them with experiences they would otherwise miss out on.
Caroline, London, UK
| I disagree with this move. It is anti-family |
No, I disagree with this move. It is anti-family. Parents should have the right to take their children on holiday when they can afford to do it, when their job will allow them and when their family needs it. Now, we have the government telling us when we can travel with our families. What next, government telling us when we can have a party or go shopping?
Jane, London Please let's get this into perspective. Our standards are awfully low, with children unable to read and write properly - and that's after three years at university. How a few days either side of a primary school break has importance to the wider issue here, I fail to see.
Jon Hansen, London , England
"Should term-time holidays be banned?" I thought they were already banned, by the Education Acts! What you're really asking is "should the ban be enforced - and how?"
Simon Richardson, London, UK
| I understand the absences will be recorded as unauthorised absences i.e. truancies |
The schools will have tough choices here. If they do not approve "in term" absences, I understand the absences will be recorded as unauthorised absences i.e. truancies which will in turn have an adverse effect on their league table ratings. Also, there are numerous days when children are denied education as a result of teachers going on strike, schools being used for elections, buildings unavailable due to heating malfunctions and the like, teacher training days etc. (My son has lost 10 days in the past year for these reasons.) So can parents "fine" the school if the school fails to provide the undisrupted education that is allegedly so vital?
Keith, London Most of the opponents of this scheme have (deliberately or otherwise) missed a crucial point. The fines will only apply if children are taken on holiday in term time without permission from the head teacher. This is already illegal. All the Government are doing is introducing a penalty for those who break the law. We have to ask permission from our employer before taking a holiday. Why should it be any different when taking children on holiday?
Simon, UK
The whole idea is clearly ridiculous, anyone who has experienced daily life in a school would know that a couple of weeks off will make absolutely no difference whatsoever to a child's educational chances. My parents took me on many holidays during term time, plenty of which were to family events etc which could not have taken place at any other time. My education certainly didn't suffer in the slightest, I have so many memories of great experiences which I would never have had if this completely pointless law had been in force. Hopefully most heads will have the sense not to risk losing parents and pupils respect by imposing these fines.
Sarah Waterhouse, Farnborough, Hampshire
I don't pay my taxes for parents to take their children on holiday during term-time. Missing even a few days of school could lead to them missing out on something quite fundamental. Teacher training days are there to help teachers - who let's face it don't have the time during 'work-time' to go on courses. On the other hand, holiday companies should be forced to lower their fees for holidays during school-holiday periods. Holidays are important for families, both children and parents, but should not have to be at the expense of an education.
Kathryn, Cambridge
| Admit it's purely for selfish reasons of cost |
I wonder how many of those parents condoning this practice by claiming that travel educates and broadens the mind actually spend two weeks lying by the pool or on the beach? What does this do to broaden the mind? Admit it's purely for selfish reasons of cost, and don't try to ascribe higher ideals to your actions.
Greg Brown, Norwich, UK As a former attendance officer in East Dunbartonshire Council just outside Glasgow I fear that fines for holiday truants are unworkable. My experience is that referrals for prosecutions took too long and generally the parent would be given a 6 month warning period during which attendance would improve so the sheriff would give an admonishment. Then the child would continue to truant and the whole process would start again. It could take years to get a conviction.
Gillian Hamilton, Glasgow
Well done to the government for thinking up another way to penalise people. There are children of all ages smoking, drinking, skiving, stealing but let's not bother about them, get the families who take their children out of school for a week as they who cannot afford to pay high season prices.
Mike
| This is just another scheme that won't work |
Will parents be fined who take children out of school "for religious reasons"? And what happens to parents who claim that they cannot afford to pay? This is just another scheme that won't work, or will be unenforceable due to issues such as class and racism.
Zoe, England I think it is sensible to discourage time out of secondary education, more so than during primary or infant school. In fact my children, after reaching 11 or 12, requested that we didn't take them out of school at the end of year, or they would miss the more relaxed end of term fun. As for the start of the school year, they felt it would put them at a disadvantage when making new friends.
Ken, Wilts
My point is that if parents are to be encouraged not to take time out of term for holidays, then schools should stop loading up pupils with homework during the school holiday. As a parent, I am sick of my precious 4 weeks off school being ruined by children's' need to complete unnecessary projects set by school, whilst the teachers take their 'well earned rest'.
Tim Crowther, Leeds
I don't know how much certain people commenting here earn, but I can tell you that �100 is actually quite a lot for most families struggling to pay a mortgage even with both parents working, let alone single parent families. There is a great difference in educational value between just a beach holiday, lying in the sun by a pool and a trip of a lifetime to a different culture. However, spending time in a loving family environment is just as important to a child's development. As long as the headmaster considers that the child is either sufficiently ahead, or can catch up again swiftly, I see no harm allowing time off. Perhaps it should be a requirement that the child does a project on their holiday for extra credit?
Howard, St Annes, UK
The people who should be fined are the holiday companies for charging such ridiculous prices. If you want to go away during school holidays, prices are too high for the accommodation you are given anyway, but they use the school holidays as an excuse to fleece more money from the British public!
Alison, Wallsend, Newcastle If taking children out of school for a few extra days is going to interrupt their education so badly then how come teachers' training days don't have the same effect? Why aren't these scheduled during one of the twelve or thirteen weeks holiday that teachers enjoy?
CG, Hampshire
I have always thought that if taking your child away from school for a holiday was good enough for Tony Blair, then it was good enough for me. Especially when it is towards the end of term, when all but the caretaker are winding down.
Ray Bray, Milton Keynes
The fine for taking kids on holiday during term-time should be high enough to be a real deterrent - �1,000 sounds about right. It incenses me when I have to put up with other people's children on my hard-earned holiday, just because they're too mean to pay the going rate during school holidays.
Jane F, Cambridge, UK
Perhaps if people without kids stopped taking their holidays in non-term time, the prices for school holiday periods would come down. Isn't that just as anti-social?
Malcolm, Wirral, UK
France is divided into 3 zones for school holidays - each zone has a different fortnight school holiday around February time. Although there is some overlap the whole country is not on school holidays at the same time. Therefore there is not the demand on one particular week of everyone wanting to go on holiday. This keeps prices from rising excessively and therefore makes holidaying in the school vacation more possible financially. Could the UK do something similar? It may be a problem for families who live in different parts of the country but for most people it would mean holidays are possible without interrupting school life.
Imogen, France and Hampshire
| I am not able to choose when I get time off work, so I take my children away when I can |
As a parent I am responsible for educating my children. I choose to delegate this to the school (not without some misgivings) but have not the slightest doubt that they learn far more when spending time with their family. I am not able to choose when I get time off work, so I take my children away when I can - and I don't mean abroad. Hostelling and camping in different parts of the UK has opened their eyes and minds to so many things. If the school starts fining me for doing this, I would consider taking them out of school for good. Can't the Government and the schools see that the majority of parents act in the best interests of their children?
Sylvia, Redhill, UK In our family (and in a significant number at my daughter's primary school) one parent is from another, distant country. The cost of going to visit grandparents and family in America, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand or Australia is substantial. We occasionally (once every two years or so) take our daughter out of school for a few days longer than the Christmas or Easter holidays for the simple reason that once you arrive on the West Coast of USA it takes near enough a week to recover from the journey. There is tremendous educational value to visiting other countries. And in our case, of also connecting with family.
There needs to be more flexibility in the system than immediately imposing a fine. I am sorry to say, but it appears to be another "nanny state" step by this government. There are other ways of solving this issue, rather than fining people. And no, head teachers should NOT be responsible for policing parents. They have sufficient responsibilities as it is!
Nancy, Guildford, Surrey
Parents complaining about the cost of holiday during school holidays should learn a little bit about basic economics. If there are a lot of people going on holiday at the same time, then prices will be higher. Get used to it. Then again, any parent with a sound grasp of economics will realise that a �100 fine will be less than the extra they'd have to pay to take a holiday during the school holidays anyway.
Angela Hodgson, Barnsley, UK
Perhaps the MPs should concentrate why people take their children out. Many families simply cannot afford to go away during school holidays, travel firms charge more than double for these weeks. By charging a fee then it puts holiday time for families even further out of reach. The government should put a block on travel firms increasing fares etc. There is, after all, no reason for this, it costs no more to fly a plane during holiday times than term time.
Tracy Ingram, Crawley, W.Sx, England
| Can the Government be more interested in my child's education than I am? |
Can the Government be more interested in my child's education than I am? If I decide to take my child on holiday, surely that is our prerogative as a family. I want the best for my child, and before I take him on holiday, one can assume that I have weighed up the consequences of his missing school, and concluded that it is nothing that cannot be remedied. I will not allow my child fall behind at school, and before I book the holiday, I will have ensured that this will not happen, anyway. Holidays also educate children, and broaden their minds. In the final analysis, whose child is it, mine or Charles Clarke's?
Bel Andrew, London The origin of the very long summer school break was so that children could help with the harvest. Obviously that is now no longer required so why not change the school year so that there are, say, four 3 week holiday periods which could be staggered locally so that schools close to each other would overlap. But of course the teachers (the most molly-coddled of all professions in my view) probably wouldn't like that.
Andy, Salisbury, UK
I was skipped ahead a year of school at the age of 10. All I was required to do to skip the year was spend a few weeks in my summer holidays learning the maths and English taught in that year with my parents, and demonstrate that I'd grasped it. I think I can say I turned out OK, with two degrees from good universities and a decent job - and that was a WHOLE year I missed. So, if my school thought it feasible to cram a whole year into a couple of weeks, I'm sure most kids could easily recover a week or so worth of work in a few days. Make them get ahead in their studies before they go, then if the teachers are satisfied the child has grasped the work in their own time, what is the problem? If anything it would be rewarding assiduousness.
Phil B, London, UK.
| When money was tight we just holidayed in the UK |
My parents would never have dreamed of taking me and my brother out of school for a holiday. When money was tight we just holidayed in the UK - we were just as happy running about on a beach in Cornwall as we would have been abroad. And for all those who say that holidays abroad are educational - how much is the average child really going to learn during a week or 2 on a beach in Spain? Get real!
Sarah, London Sarah, London - I take my boy to France in the term time for two weeks of the year. He is six and now able to count and speak in French. He also does circus school when he is there, so is now able to spin plates and balance on a beam. He also does stage school, where he learns about acting and gets the confidence to be able to perform to a crowd. Can you tell me which primary school can give this form of education in two weeks? He also knows not tar everybody with the same brush
Martin, UK
I believe parents who put holidays above school attendance are selfishly making judgements to suit their own little worlds rather than thinking of the greater benefit to their children and the rest of their schools. How on earth do they think they know better than professional educationalists? One day may their consciences pay the price for frittering away their children's chances of getting the most out of their education - all for the sake of saving a few hundred pounds. What sense of values do they have?
Kenneth Moore, Bournemouth
Fining parents for taking their kids on holiday during term time is a waste of time and misses the point. For a party supposedly set up to support the less fortunate, this latest bit of legislation is another slap in the face for the less well off. Of course people will go on holiday when it's cheaper - d'oh! The emphasis on absenteeism is misplaced, people should look at some of the underlying reasons for poor attainment and make some differentiation between types of, and reasons for, non attendance.
Mick, Birmingham
Firstly, �100 is nothing to most people. Secondly, with the standard of education and teaching having dropped drastically in recent years, any semi-literate child would soon be able to catch up even if they took a whole term off.
Nick Stutley, UK
I think the government and head teachers should concentrate their attention on the unruly and disruptive children who waste everyone's time on a daily basis. If my child is achieving top marks and does not cause any problems to the rest of the class then, as a caring and responsible parent, it is my decision whether my child's best interest is served by going on holiday when it suits us. Holidays play an important role in family life and a child development and if by going on holiday outside of the peak time is the only time a family can afford it then I think they should be allowed to do so.
Ian Ross, Crosby, Merseyside With everything in life a happy balance is required. A child is in full time education for at least 11 years of their young lives. Be realistic, what difference would 2 weeks out of 11 years make to their education? Taking one or more holidays during term time every year could impact their education, but the occasional time off for one or more really special holidays can do no harm.
Louise, Edinburgh
I think if it's not interfering with exams, then why not take the kids out of school for a week and escape the dreary and depressing weather in this country! SAD doesn't just affect adults.
Sara Haley, Leeds
Who's going to explain to the boss why half their staff are now demanding leave in the school holidays to avoid the fine? Perhaps the government should make school holidays public holidays too and pay for lost revenue and personnel issues!
James Duffy, Eastbourne, UK
Why is the government targeting people who want a family holiday and not the truants? There are many reasons to take a holiday in term time, not just the price. Is this yet another tax on the family?
Caron, England
| What on earth is the necessity to take your child out of school early? |
Yes they should be fined. Including half-terms, there are 6 school holidays a year with the Summer holidays lasting for ages, so what on earth is the necessity to take your child out of school early? I hope this fine will also apply to those parents who take their child out of school for a day just to take them shopping.
Nik, Henley, UK This is nothing to do with rich or poor. This is selfish middle class parents wanting to save a little bit of money and then expecting teachers to work more and give extra tuition to make up the lost time. If sunning yourself at Disney world is educational, fine, but don't expect the whole class to be held back for your kids! If you have kids, it is your problem! Market forces dictate holiday prices. You already get to finish work early to "pick up the kids" or "go to their concert".
Vish, UK
If your idea of a holiday is going to some appalling tourist trap so that you can slowly roast in the sun and eat British food, then you deserve to be penalised. Try going to places off the beaten tourist track that are actually interesting instead of just hot, tacky and full of British yobs. You'll find that it's much easier and cheaper to get to them and stay in them at all times of the year. And your kids might actually benefit educationally as well.
James, Coventry, England
Ministers should do something to stop the holiday industry ripping parents off. Family holidays are very important - sometimes it is the only time a family can spend quality time together. It is not just poor families that go in term time - most of us don't see why we should pay double for the same holiday. What about fines for teacher training days, when working parents have to make alternative costly arrangements for their children? They can't have it both ways - make the teachers do the training within their 13 weeks holiday a year. What other occupation gives such generous holiday entitlement - I can't think of one.
Debbie Detheridge, Christchurch, Dorset
| If the government wants to do something to stop this then they should regulate the travel agents |
Of course parents shouldn’t face a fine. Not when travel agents cynically hike up their prices to price everyone but the rich out of the market during the school holidays. If the government wants to do something to stop this then they should regulate the travel agents. Besides does missing a week of holiday matter that much? The government is looking for an excuse to blame our poor education system on.
Philip, London I absolutely agree that a child's education is important, however just as important is quality time with family and friends the chance to bond again. The reason parents are ignoring the ban and seem prepared to pay the fine is because it is still cheaper than paying for a holiday in normal school holiday dates.
Alison Woolhouse, Swindon, UK
I really don't think that there is a problem to be solved at all. If schools could provide an education anywhere near the level a foreign holiday can for a 12 year old in a week, the government might then have a case. I personally learnt much more on holiday than I ever did during the same period at school.
Stewart Bulloch, Cambridge, UK
| My parents wouldn't even take me out of school for a day unless I was ill |
As a child, my parents wouldn't even take me out of school for a day unless I was ill. So I didn't have a foreign holiday until I was 16. We had a caravan in North Wales. Made me appreciate foreign holidays more when I could take them.
Anon, UK Term-time hols are a necessary for poorer families who cannot afford the extreme hike in peak-time holiday prices. Let's not punish the poor, let's instead introduce all year round schooling with a combination of static holiday periods such as Easter and Xmas with a floating allowance that can be taken when the parents wish to take their family holiday.
Paul W, Wirral
It would have been unthinkable for my parents to have even considered taking us out of school for anything except an emergency or a funeral - I don't understand why parents today think they have a "right" to cheaper holidays. School is both compulsory and very important - plan around it, and go where you can afford.
Jez, UK
Of course term-time holidays should be banned. Then folks like me can have peace and quiet during our holidays with no disruption from other people's children.
John Higgins, Glasgow, Scotland
�100 fine is too low. To stop this practice the fine should be a real deterrent such as �500 or �1000. These irresponsible parents who disrupt their child's education should also receive "good parenting" lessons. If you can't afford an expensive foreign holiday in term-time then take a cheaper one here in the UK - we do!
Peter Jarvis, Ipswich, UK
Having children is a lifestyle choice. Part of that lifestyle is expensive peak time holidays. Tough luck, all you moaning mummies and daddies, you can't have you cake AND eat it!
Tom, Slough
I have always believed that going abroad is an education in itself. It teaches children about other cultures and the state/schools shouldn't have a right to tell parents what they can or cannot do with their own children. We have taken our son out of state education and we teach him at home because he was being bullied. Most parents don't realise they have the right to do this. As far as we're concerned, the system failed him completely.
Earl Bramley-Howard Barnstaple, Devon It's okay for the MPs, they have holidays guaranteed during school holidays. As a postman, I have to take pot luck and only one in three years can I guarantee a holiday during the summer school holidays. Last year I sent my wife and two children on holiday alone as I couldn't get holidays at the right time. This is even though Royal Mail claims to be a family friendly employer. Until I am guaranteed holidays when my children are off school and the prices are affordable then I and my children will take separate holidays. Do MPs realise how that feels?
Geoff, Northwich, Cheshire
I don't think it is fair to expect parents not to take children on holiday in term-time when teachers can and do (in the case of my son's primary school) go on holiday in term-time - often their class is taught by supply teachers in their absence.
Mrs Kate Wood, Ashford, Kent
Funnily enough, my parents thought my education was important enough for me to attend at all times. If you can't afford to take the kids to Disneyland, take them camping instead. Oh, I forgot, it's all about what the parents want and keeping up with the neighbours. If you don't value your kids' education, then fine, take your kids out of school - they're the ones who'll miss out.
Sandy, UK
It was almost unheard of for parents to take their children out of school for holidays not all that long ago. It seems that a combination of the materialism engendered during the Tory years and the continued imbalance in favour of so-called "parental choice" has resulted in a minority of parents wanting to have their cake and eat it. I suspect that these will also be the kind of parents who blame schools for their own failings at the earliest opportunity.
Robert Crosby, Nottingham, UK My parents never took me out of school for holidays during term-time and I'm astonished that so many people think it is acceptable to do so. Is parent sponsored truancy any better educationally?
Katherine, London, UK
The problem is that virtually every single school has exactly the same holidays. If they were staggered, it would bring down the prices of holidays. It would also help people like me if schools were to give longer at Christmas - I suffer very badly with seasonal depression and now my son is 7 I can't remedy that with winter sun.
Jonathan Kelk, Dalry, Scotland
| It is up to the government to up to the government to impose the same controls on holiday companies |
If controls are to be imposed on parents then it is up to the government to impose the same controls on holiday companies who insist on charging more for holidays at times of the year when children are away from school. Unless family rights are protected it would be unjust to impose fines upon them. I for one would refuse to pay it.
Gillian Andrews, London Don't see why not, unless the holiday companies are going to stop inflating their prices during the school holidays. So provided that the children are not in the last two years of their education (GCSE exam time) and their parents make an effort for the children to catch up on anything vital missed - go for it.
Sanchia, Brighton
I totally disagree; working parents cannot just take holidays when they wish! My children are grown up now and I like other parents had to book my family holidays when available at work.
Jayne Foster, Middlesex
To change the focus, why don't the government stop the tour operators charging exorbitant prices during school holidays, �100 fine is nothing compared to this.
Gerry Anstey, Bournemouth
| Perhaps educational holidays should be looked at by head teachers in a different light |
All I can say is that I learnt a lot more while away from school on holiday with my parents than I would have learnt in school. Perhaps educational holidays should be looked at by head teachers in a different light to holidays merely involving lying on a beach for a week.
JP, London Those who say that lowering holiday prices will solve the problem are totally wrong. The high prices are caused by demand vastly exceeding supply during the school holidays. Forcing the prices lower would do nothing to increase capacity. Only by staggering the school holidays around the country can the problem be solved.
Paddy, Cambridge, UK
Simple answer! Don't have kids! The government can't then mess you around for trying to give your own children some memories to carry with them.
Gavin, Cardiff, Wales
Part of the blame lies with the schools in scheduling of the "training days". Too often our children have to go in just for the Monday and Tuesday since the last day of term is turned into a "training day". If the school can do that then why shouldn't we take the Monday and Tuesday as well ?
John, Bristol
Just have to budget for the extra �100 then. Still cheaper than at peak time. If the governments focus is only on cost then so is mine. They have no right to interfere with how I raise MY child.
Max Richards, England
A week off school can't hurt too much. It's the regular truants who ought to be targeted.
Ettenuahs, Swindon
This is a pretty typical government cop-out. Instead of focussing on tearaways and yobs who regularly skip school and cause havoc the government decides to take the easy option, penalising parents who take their children out of school for a holiday they can afford instead of going into debt to pay a higher price in holiday time. I can see an increase in home schooling if this sort of thing goes much further.
John B, UK
If parents aim for the best for their kids' education they will have to give that priority over their own holidays. Taking leave during term-time could may cause the child to fall behind, potentially causing both child and tutors extra stress for the sake of a holiday.
Jilles Edema, Aberdeen
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