With prices traditionally being hiked up out of school term-time, many families find holidaying with the kids a hefty strain on the wallet. We consulted the iVillage community for their views
The Government's Every Lesson Counts campaign was launched in February 2007 to encourage parents to maintain and improve children's attendance at school. As part of this campaign, the travel industry was asked to provide family holidays at cheaper prices to allow families to go away during peak times.
But does this mean parents will be given any flexibility over cheap term-time breaks? No, says the Department for Education. Every lesson, they say, is still just as important. www.direct.gov.uk spells out their guidelines:
'You should not normally take your child on holiday in term-time as it can be disruptive both to your child's education and to the school.
'Holidays in term-time can only be agreed by the head teacher or someone with appropriate authority. Schools can use their discretion to grant up to 10 days' authorised absence in a school year if:
- the parent the child normally lives with applies to the school in advance of the holiday
and
- there are special reasons for the holiday.'
It continues by saying that the availability or otherwise of cheap holidays or desired accommodation is not an acceptable reason to take a term-time holiday.
Views from the iVillage community
Our message board members were divided on the issue. On the one hand, a Child-Free By Choice board member suggests it is unfair that families are penalised.
She said: 'I do think it's unfair that the prices are SO much higher during school holidays, so that families who do not want to take their children out of school are forced to pay over the odds AND they already have the expense of paying for their children, whereas my partner and I only have ourselves to pay for!'
But she adds: 'I think it would be irresponsible to take a teenager out of school where they're preparing for their GCSEs and even missing a week of school could set them back. Being at the actual lesson is more beneficial than reading someone else's notes to catch up.'
Kate agrees that timing is everything, and explains: 'I have two boys (12 and 14-years-old) and now they are at a crucial stage in their education I wouldn't take them out of school. I am strict about attendance and make them go to school whenever possible.
'But I feel younger children can go without too much harm and I feel the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Education does not begin and end in the classroom.'