Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Holidays in School Term Time

25 November 2024 · 7 other contributors · 7,339 words

Opened by Dave Robertson Lab Lichfield

Responding minister: Stephen Morgan

EducationChildren & Families

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Dave Robertson raised concerns about holidays in school term time in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Dave Robertson raises concerns about families taking children out of school during term time due to unaffordable holiday costs during school breaks.
  • Robertson calls on the government to explore solutions that provide flexibility for families to take holidays during term time without facing penalties.
  • The minister acknowledges families' desire to avoid busy holiday periods but emphasizes the importance of school attendance, highlighting government efforts to tackle absence through responsibility, partnership, and belonging.

Key requests to Government

Robertson calls on the Government to explore solutions that might make it easier for families to take holidays during term time without incurring penalties. He suggests giving parents some flexibility, such as up to two weeks off from school with their children, and invites the Minister to consider various proposed solutions.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Dave Robertson Lab Lichfield

Dave Robertson is concerned about the affordability of family holidays during school term time. He notes that many families cannot afford to take their children on holiday during the traditional school break periods due to the high cost, leading them to take their kids out of school during term time instead. This can result in parents facing fines and feeling criminalised for what they see as a necessity. Robertson also highlights issues faced by families with additional needs and the importance of self-directed learning outside the formal education environment.

Other contributors (7)
  • Allison Gardner Lab Stoke-on-Trent South

    Ms. Gardner highlighted the importance of school attendance for children's development and mental health, noting a 6.7% absence rate last autumn. She stressed that fines do not encourage better attendance but punish families in difficult situations, especially those with special educational needs. She shared a personal story about a constituent whose child had severe trauma due to undiagnosed neurodiverse conditions and faced threats of court action for taking the child out of school. Ms. Gardner argued that the current system is punitive towards struggling families and suggested a more balanced approach that supports rather than punishes these families.

  • Kieran Mullan Lab Stoke-on-Trent South

    Dr Kieran Mullan acknowledged the complexities of balancing education requirements with family needs during term time. He cited a case where parents took their child out of school to be with a dying relative, emphasizing the importance of compassionate reasons for absences.

  • Ian Sollom Lib Dem St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire

    Mr. Sollom highlighted the UK's ongoing absence crisis in schools, noting that absences have not dropped to pre-pandemic levels despite school restrictions being lifted since 2022. He emphasised the importance of family holidays for children and argued against punitive measures such as fines for unauthorised absences. The MP called on airlines and travel operators to stop exploiting families financially during peak holiday periods. Mr. Sollom also discussed the financial correlation between a child's attendance and their eligibility for free school meals, noting that 36.5% of children eligible for free meals were absent compared to only 15.6% who were not.

  • James McMurdock Ind South Basildon and East Thurrock

    The speaker pointed out a supply and demand issue in holiday destinations, suggesting that giving more flexibility to schools could help address this imbalance and benefit businesses and families alike.

  • Neil Duncan-Jordan Lab Poole

    The MP asked whether an impact assessment should be carried out by the Government to understand how the current rules affect low-income families specifically.

  • Neil O'Brien Con Harborough, Oadby and Wigston

    Mr. O'Brien expressed concern about the impact of decreased school attendance on children's academic performance, noting that a 10% decrease in attendance correlates to a halving of GCSE grade 5 or above attainment. He acknowledged efforts made by previous governments to address this issue and highlighted the importance of balancing parents' desire for cheaper holidays with the need for children to attend school regularly.

  • Vikki Slade Lib Dem Mid Dorset and North Poole

    The speaker highlighted a case where a resident was fined for taking their child out of school to see their dying grandfather in India, raising concerns about the lack of compassion in the system and potential risks faced by families.

Government Response

Stephen Morgan

It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Sir Edward Leigh, and I welcome the shadow Minister Neil O'Brien. The minister acknowledges that families wish to avoid busier periods but emphasizes the importance of school attendance. The Government are tackling absence via an approach rooted in responsibility, partnership, and belonging, including supporting schools and parents' legal responsibilities. There has been progress since the pandemic, yet one in five children is persistently absent, missing a day every other week. The minister highlights the benefits of regular school attendance for attainment, mental wellbeing, and long-term development, with data showing that 18% fewer children who miss two weeks achieve good GCSE results compared to those attending daily. Analysis by the Office of the Children's Commissioner shows any amount of holiday during term time is associated with lower GCSE results. The minister also emphasizes that a child taken out for a fortnight's term-time holiday and having an average number of days off due to illness will miss a full school year by age 16, impacting other children's learning stability negatively, particularly disadvantaged pupils. Extra funding over £1 billion is announced to help schools with additional costs, including supporting SEND pupils. The minister notes that the national framework for penalty notices strengthens protections for SEND parents and sets out clear expectations on how services should work together to improve attendance. Concerning holiday prices, the Government recognize the concerns but do not have authority to dictate pricing strategies. Schools and local authorities can plan term dates to help families plan breaks at suitable times. The minister stresses that family holidays are enriching activities but prioritizes children attending school as a crucial step towards success.

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