Fines for parents who take their children on holiday during term time

[Gromit]

A single parent was fined �400 for taking her children on a 4 day break to a Skegness caravan park (should have done her for cruelty maybe). Is this justified or nanny state?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2006/09/22/ntruants22.xml

[suffragette]

I think something that is often overlooked in this particular issue is why do we persist in a long summer break from school. It was introduced at a time when children were expected to help with the harvesting and has remained to this day when it is no longer required for the good of the rural economy.

I think the holiday system as a whole should be re-assessed and parents given the opprtunity to take their children on holiday at a time of their choosing and not when the state deems it acceptable. The matter is made all the more difficult for some parents because the holiday companies up their prices during the summer holidays because they see it as profitable, with a captive market.

As for the parents being fined because their little horrors cannot be bothered to attend school, then I'm afraid I have little sympathy for them in such cases.

[Siamsal]

I half agree with you, suffragette: the holiday system does need updating, for the reasons you state.

But I don't think parents should have carte-blanche to take their kids out of school for hols. When I was young, it was a very rare occurence, but it seems to be almost the norm now.

It does seem a bit nanny-ish, yes, but I think the stance is justified in this matter. Children deserve and should get (by law) the best education they can. If this were not controlled, there would be kids off for weeks.

[unruliejulie]

I am taking my son out of school for 11 days next week. I cannot afford the extra �1000.00 it would have added to our holiday to take him during term time. Also seeing as they class kids of 13 as adults, thus charging adult prices, is it any wonder parents have no alternative but to do this. This is not something i do every year. This will be our first holiday in 5 years and it was 5 years before that. The travel companies need to be taken to task on this issue and get it sorted out! It is not fair that they up their prices to the extent they do. Sheer exploitation of parents.

[noxlumos]

Nanny state, utter bloody stupidity and things like this keep the poor poorer and make the class divide more and more obvious within schools. Next year thanks to having to pay the fine, her POOR kids won't go on holiday at all, whilst rich people's children will be taken during the more expensive summer holidays. This labour govt is more and more of an outrage against it's key voters everyday. Big brother is going to come a cropper in the elections as I do not believe the British populace will be dictated to like this and there is a lot more to education than just school, there is life experience and kids learn to parent byu the way their parent's treated them,so holidays are invaluable sources of positive re-inforcement for poorer children. Utterly disgraceful and I'm going to pay her fine for her.

[jno]

depends, doesn't it? Fining someone for taking their daughter to a family reunion in America sounds harsh - but she'd already missed a fifth of her lessons. Did her mother send her to school at all?

The truth seems to be that some parents don't give a stuff if their kids get an education. This could quite possibly make their kids' future lives a lot worse. Should they be allowed to make such decisions? If the state has taken on responsibility for educating all children, shouldn't it be able to enforce it against the wishes of irresponsible parents?

I don't know the individual facts of the Skegness case. It sounds unjust, and maybe it was. But I don't think the principle is wrong.

[LeMarchand]

Why do people always feel that a holiday is on a par with food, water and shelter? I'd like to go on holiday too - but as I can't afford it, I don't.

[unruliejulie]

how can spending quality time as a family NOT be important?

[galaxy]

The bottom line is if the travel companies didnt shaft us for wanting to take our kids away during the holidays, we would do it.

If we (2 adults and 4 kids) wanted to go to Gran Canaria in May and booked through Travel Agent, the hoilday would cost �2700. Exactly the same holiday in August is �4600

I would pay the �400 fine if i had to.

We always write to the school to ask for permission and they always send a letter home saying we shouldnt really do it but they will allow us to do it this time. No more than 10 days per year. We went for 16 school days on two different holidays last year and had no trouble. They just send the same standard letter home.

[Gef]

I just hope the parents dont expect the school to make any extra effort when the child returns. It is up to them, and the child, to catch up on missed work.

[unruliejulie]

of course it is gef and i have made that clear to my son, its not a problem but galaxy is right. Its the holiday companies that need to change their ways not the parents.

[Abe Ditori]

Why hold the holiday companies to account. If the general public dislike the increased costs that much then they should just refuse book those holidays. If everyone stopped booking summer holidays because of the increased prices, what would the holiday companies do? They'd have to drop the prices or go bankrupt.
The power to make the changes is with the public. The problem is the general public can't be bothered to make a stance. The holiday is more important to them.

[admarlow]

I think its unfair to expect holiday companies not change their prices at peak times its just simple supply and demand.

[auzzie]

My daughters school does not object in principal, BUT you must have a minimum of a 97% attendance and have no important tests, exams etc, and they don't lke 2 weeks! In any case you still have to apply, it is not automatic.

[jno]

Abe Ditori's right. You could argue that, as much as they overprice holidays at peak periods, holiday companies also underprice them in low season, so comparing highest and lowest prices is pretty artificial both ways. But if you object, boycott them. Book your own flights and hotels on the internet. If the holiday package companies are overcharging, then you ought to be able to do it more cheaply, right?

[galaxy]

I always book my own flights and apartments but it is still cheaper outside of the holidays.

All travel companies including arilines charge more in the holidays. It would be great to boycott them but lets face it, its not going to happen.

My parents in law booked flights to lanzarote in february. They did not realise it was during the half term. The flights were �180 during that week instead of �99 during the weeks either side of half term. The school holidays meant nothing to the but they had to go that week. 4 of them. �720 instead �396. Why not just charge about �120 all the time.

[Gromit]

This thread has changed slightly since I started it.

I have booked a flight to Turkey on Monday 16th October - �100. If I went the following Friday (20th) the start of half term, then my flight would have cost �317.

Why do do all the schools have to close at the same time? Surely in terms of maintenance, re-supply and cleaning, a staggered closeddown time would be sensible.

[jno]

I suppose you could always not go to Turkey or Lanzarote or wherever. My parents lived long, full lives without doing either. As LeMarchand says, holidys in Lanzarote aren't actually guaranteed to all mortals under human rights legislation. Perhaps people should just go places they can afford, at times they can afford? Revolutionary thinking, I know.

[unruliejulie]

a nice idea to boycott the travel agencies during summer hols but those with money wouldnt need to so thats never going to work and its always the way that if you have money, it doesnt affect you.I would have loved to have gone during the summer months for the better weather but this is my only option .Yes, we could go without a holiday, we have done for 5 years. My husband works very very hard and i think he deserves a nice holiday at the end of it.

What about all the school days my son misses due to so called teacher days! i work in a hairdressers and we have had a few teachers coming in to get their hair done on teacher training days!!!!!!!!

[Gromit]

jno

As I said, this thread has changed quite a bit since it started. I do not have children at school, and was more asking about the news item not my own personal cicumstances. On a purely selfish stance, I am pleased my holiday is a third of the price, and brat free.