Parents to risk term-time holiday fines
One in five parents plan to resist the threat of a £100 fine and continue to take their children on term-time family holidays, according to a new survey.
Today’s Teletext holidays survey found that parents are unfazed by the latest government crackdown on unauthorised absences, as the forthcoming penalties are still less than the extra price of a peak period holiday.
Ministers proposed the fines, which come into effect from February 27th, after discovering that families condoned nearly half of all unauthorised absences.
The government argues that unauthorised term-time holidays constitute truancy, and is concerned of the adverse effect the absences have on children’s studies.
But the survey revealed that a fifth of parents took their children on term-time holidays for two weeks or more last year, with half of them arguing that the cultural experience offered greater enlightenment than time in the classroom. However, a quarter said they felt guilty about their actions.
