Parents are hit with massive price rises if they take their children away in school holidays, sparki (Image: Getty)
Parents desperate for a getaway with their kids during peak school holiday periods are grappling with eye-watering price surges. Research has shown that average package holiday rates soar by 18% during school breaks, some hotspots witnessing increases of up to 28% per person compared to off-peak travel; prices have been known to double in some cases.
An outcry has sparked a campaign for legal reform to permit parents to take their children out of school for holidays without being heavily penalised financially. As it stands, families face council fines for unauthorised term-time absences—with penalties set at £80 within 21 days or £160 thereafter, a system tightened by the previous Tory government.
A petition, championed by 73,530 supporters and acknowledged by the Department for Education, is gaining momentum. Campaign leader and parent Natalie Elliot is pushing for change, urging the government to: “Allow parents to take their children out of school for up to 10 days fine free.
“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! The data that the DfE has published are statistics based on what we consider is a very weak correlation between school attendance and attainment, but they have failed entirely to consider causation.
“The SEND issues have also been ignored, and we believe some children are being discriminated against due to the strict guidelines that have been put in place. Many children with SEND do have a disability, and are therefore protected under the Equality Act. We are calling for reform of legislation on taking children out of school urgently.”
The Department for Education has acknowledged its sympathy for parents facing challenges in ensuring their child’s school attendance due to various reasons. The statement notes: “Absence is one of the biggest barriers to success for children and young people, and has soared post-pandemic.
“It is one of the greatest barriers to opportunity and supporting children to achieve. The most recent DfE data shows that any increase in absence is associated with dramatic reductions in attainment – children who attend school every day are twice as likely to achieve good GCSEs compared to those who miss two weeks of school a year. It is not just those who are absent who are impacted.
“A steady churn of absences disrupts the learning of every child disrupting teachers’ ability to plan and sequence learning. It also has a significant detrimental impact on the hard work of school staff to cultivate a sense of community and belonging.”
On the topic of holidays during term-time, the department stated, “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.”
Those interested can read the full comprehensive governement response and show support for the petition by .