Parents urged not to book term-time holidays (From Chorley Citizen)

Parents urged not to book term-time holidays

7:46am Monday 25th February 2008

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As most children return to school today, after the half-term holidays, parents are being reminded not to take their children out of school during term time as they prepare to book their summer holidays.

Schools in Lancashire are taking a tougher line on time away from school.

Every Lesson Counts is urging parents to book breaks that will not impact on their children's education by going away during the school holidays.

Every Lesson Counts is a DCSF campaign to raise awareness of the importance of regular attendance and to help schools, parents and children implement simple working practices to cut out absenteeism.

Lancashire County councillor Vali Patel, cabinet member for schools, said: "Taking holidays during term time can mean that children miss out on important school time and coursework.

"Many parents do not realise the impact it has, especially if their child is doing well.

"We know that missing school can leave children struggling to catch up with their work, sometimes for months afterwards, and in some cases missing out all together.

"A term-time holiday is all too often seen as the rule when it should be the exception.

"School leaders often see parents taking their children out of school for holidays as it's more affordable.

"But if parents book early they can very often achieve similar savings on holidays taken outside of term time, so we would advise families to book now if they haven't already.

"We applaud those families who put their children's education and long-term futures first by adjusting their holiday plans so that their children do not need to take time off school."

If a child misses just one day a week, over the course of their school career they will miss two years of schooling.

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