After much furore all year about the ban on school time holidays, and much coverage in the media, it looks as though the government may be about to climb down on the ban. Over two hundred thousands parents have signed a petition to the government asking them to back down over the harsh ruling, and now it’s thought that new plans are being drawn up to cover some eventualities.
Since the fines were introduced many parents have flouted the ban, received fines and then received further fines upon ignoring the fines. We’ve seen many stories in the press about parents being fined for taking children to family funerals, weddings and religious ceremonies but the government have strictly imposed fines along the way. There have also been stories of school heads taking term tine holidays, much to the chagrin of many parents who would be fined for doing the same.
However, in a way we have the rule breakers to thank for the climb down because if people didn’t create a huge fuss it’s unlikely the rules would be rewritten.
However, before everyone gets too excited, the new plans won’t include holidays and will only cover time off for funerals, weddings and religious holidays, giving parents a get out for the fine. Parents still won’t be able to take their children out of school for any kind of term time break, charging a £60 fine to any parent who takes advantage of cheap holidays.
Thankfully through the off season, caravan holidays are fairly cheap if you still want to take a UK break, even during the half term breaks, but summer will be round again soon enough and parents will again have to face the unjustness of holiday prices and the threat of fines from schools.
By: Kath Cross
