Crackdown on holidays during school time

8:00am Thursday 15th May 2008

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PARENTS in Gloucestershire will be penalised for taking their children out of school during term-time as the county council cracks down on unauthorised holidays.

Gloucestershire County Council is getting tough on parents who take their children out of school for family holidays without authorisation.

Eleven parents were prosecuted by the county council's education welfare service between April 2007 and April 2008 for taking unauthorised holidays.

In the same period 32 parents were sent a penalty notice and 103 parents were sent a warning letter about the same issue.

The county council is quick to point out that although parents think taking their children on holiday doesn't affect their education, if a child takes two weeks' holiday out of school each year this adds up to 24 weeks of their formal education - almost a whole school year.

The council has the power to issue penalty notices of £100 to each parent of each child.

This would cost a two-parent family with three children £600 if they decided to go on a holiday during term-time without authorisation.

If the penalty is not paid within 42 days parents will be taken to court, where they can be fined up to £1,000 by magistrates.

Cllr Joan Nash, county cabinet member for schools, said: "I am pleased to see we are clamping down on unauthorised holidays.

"Missing school through family holidays can damage pupils' attainment levels and disrupt school routines and the learning of others.

"Not only do children miss work while they are away, they are also less prepared for lessons when they return.

"Poor attainment in school can seriously affect children's longer term life opportunities."

Many schools in Gloucestershire will authorise holidays in term-time, but it is the county council's recommendation that parents should not take their children away during school time.