The high cost of travel during school holidays has been debated in Parliament, with a local MP warning that many parents are “deeply concerned” about the current approach to school attendance and the fines imposed on families who take children out of school.
The debate, sparked by an e-petition, was opened by Keighley MP Robbie Moore, who said holidays were expensive to begin with — and their prices rose “hugely” during typical school breaks.
“Market forces mean that many families simply cannot afford a holiday during school breaks,” he said.
“One parent from Keighley told me she was quoted £1,000 more per person for a February half-term holiday than for one the following week, meaning an identical family holiday would cost thousands more simply because it was taken during school holidays. This view was echoed by many families who feel they are being priced out by what is clearly predatory pricing from holiday companies.”
Middlewich MP Andrew Cooper, who said 357 of his constituents had signed the petition, acknowledged the tension between ensuring consistent education and recognising the value of quality family time.
“I’ve heard from many families who are deeply concerned about the current approach to school attendance and the impact of fines for term-time holidays,” he said.
“These concerns are especially pressing for those facing financial pressures, limited flexibility in work schedules, and for families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities—where routine, flexibility and emotional well-being are often more complex and nuanced.”
Mr Cooper cited research published in March showing a strong correlation between attendance and attainment: “Just 10 days’ absence in year 6 reduces the likelihood of achieving the expected standard by 25%. But we must also acknowledge that family time matters. Shared experiences strengthen family bonds, support emotional well-being and create lasting memories, which are vital for a child’s overall development. Those moments are not just desirable—they are necessary.”
He added that many families faced broader challenges in aligning their leave with school holidays.
“For some constituents who’ve contacted me — notably, an airline pilot — holiday periods are allocated or restricted by employers, limiting parents’ ability to take time off during school breaks. That lack of flexibility makes it difficult for families to spend meaningful time together.”
The most common concern, however, remained the inflated cost of holidays during school breaks.
“These price hikes make holidays unaffordable for many, meaning children miss out on valuable experiences simply because their parents cannot afford to travel during peak times,” Mr Cooper said.
“For parents on lower incomes who take their children on holiday during term time, the financial challenges are compounded by fines that many families struggle to afford.”
Inconsistent
He also highlighted inconsistencies in how schools handle requests for authorised absence. “Families tell me that requests are handled differently from one school to another—particularly between state and independent schools. That lack of uniformity creates confusion and frustration, and can feel unfair to parents trying to do the right thing.”
While acknowledging that persistent absenteeism can lead to gaps in learning and reduced engagement, Mr Cooper said there was no straightforward solution—but reiterated his long-standing support for switching to a five-term school year.
“That model would offer more evenly distributed holidays throughout the year, reducing pressure on the summer break and giving families greater flexibility. It could also help ease the financial burden by spreading demand more evenly across the calendar, potentially lowering travel costs.
“For teachers, the benefits are equally compelling. Teaching is a demanding profession, and the current long stretches between holidays can lead to fatigue and burnout. More frequent, shorter breaks would allow teachers to recharge regularly, improving well-being and job satisfaction.”
He concluded: “While school attendance must remain a priority, we must recognise the realities families face. A more compassionate, flexible and consistent approach that values both education and family life is not only possible—it’s necessary.”
Mr Moore said the “fundamental challenge” was that both sides of the debate could claim to have the best interests of children at heart.
“Attendance is, of course, important—but so are family time and the educational and recreational benefits of a good holiday. We should not be pursuing attendance for attendance’s sake, or simply because it looks good in an Ofsted inspection.
“We need only look at the devastating effects of school closures during Covid to see the catastrophic consequences of persistent absenteeism: learning is damaged, safeguarding signs are missed, and children miss out on key opportunities to socialise into society.
“But when we consider just a few days a year for a family holiday for otherwise present children, are we really talking about the same issue?
“It is surely true that the parents paying these fines and feeling they’ve broken the law are the same parents who are generally law-abiding and value their children being in school. The fines are not successfully tackling the national scandal of persistent absenteeism in the wake of covid — yet they are wreaking havoc for otherwise well-meaning families.”
He noted that 487,300 penalty notices for unauthorised absences were issued in the 2023–24 academic year — an increase of 22% on the previous year’s 398,800.
Luke Myer, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said blame should not fall on “hard-working parents who just want affordable family time,” but on “predatory travel companies that jack up their prices when term time is finished.”
Minister for school standards Georgia Gould said she hoped travel companies “watch the debate and hear the strength of feeling,” but added: “Sadly, we still face an absence epidemic in this country. Absence is one of the biggest barriers to opportunity, damaging learning, health and well-being, future earnings and employment.
“Each day of lost learning can do serious harm. That is why we will not allow pupils to miss 10 days of school without good reason. However, that does not mean we are not committed to working alongside families.”
(Photo: Anna Om / Dreamstime).
