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Holidays During School Term Time
27 October 2025
Lead MP
Robbie Moore
Keighley and Ilkley
Con
Responding Minister
Georgia Gould
Tags
Economy
Word Count: 12731
Other Contributors: 18
At a Glance
Robbie Moore raised concerns about holidays during school term time in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The debate seeks to address the issue of criminalising families who wish to take short holidays during term time without imposing penalties that impact their well-being and finances. It also calls for consideration of the educational benefits of these breaks for children's development and mental health.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The petition '700047' has received 181,598 signatures. Parents are concerned about the high costs of holidays during school breaks due to predatory pricing by holiday companies. Families feel they are being priced out and fined for wanting time with their children, leading to stress and economic strain. A parent from Keighley reported an additional cost of £1,000 per person for a February half-term holiday compared to the following week.
Andrew Cooper
Lab
Mid Cheshire
He thanks those who created and signed the petition and acknowledges the concerns from constituents about fines for term-time holidays. He emphasises the importance of both consistent education and quality family time, especially for children with special educational needs.
South Devon
Fines are not effective in deterring absence and should be reduced. The system unfairly impacts families who cannot afford holiday prices outside term time, denying children enriching experiences. Financial burdens due to holidays need investigation by the Government.
Damian Hinds
Con
East Hampshire
Asked how the hon. Member would stop practices by holiday companies, suggesting that mechanisms such as price controls could be implemented.
Georgia Gould
Lab
Central Yorks
Expressed concern about language used regarding special educational needs and highlighted research showing significant negative impacts of missing school days.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Argues against a 10-day permitted absence policy, citing evidence linking attendance with attainment and expressing concerns over the impact on vulnerable pupils.
James McMurdock
Ind
South Basildon and East Thurrock
He questions whether price controls are a nice idea in theory but a terrible idea in practice due to supply and demand dictating prices, agreeing with the hon. Member. Acknowledged the support for children's welfare at the centre of the debate and agreed with Robbie Moore on banning practices by holiday companies that fine parents.
Kevin Bonavia
Lab
Stevenage
Agrees that every day in school counts but highlights families being priced out of quality family time. Provides examples of travel cost increases during holidays, calling for action to stop the exploitation by the industry.
Amber Valley
Expressed concern over inconsistent application of national framework for penalty notices and lack of empathy for family circumstances. Raised issues faced by SEND families and proposed an appeals mechanism. Asked if the Minister is concerned about Derbyshire county council's stance on overdiagnosis of special educational needs.
Luke Myer
Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Suggested that travel companies jacking up prices after term time should be addressed.
Mark Sewards
Lab
Leeds South West and Morley
He recalls an Education Committee evidence session on school attendance and asks if there is a need to look at the fines system again, to replace it or come up with something more effective.
Michelle Welsh
Lab
Sherwood Forest
She highlights the importance of attendance in achieving educational outcomes and discusses historical contexts where breaks were essential, criticizing companies for exploiting families during holidays.
Jonathan Brash
Lab
Hartlepool
He discusses the reality of families being priced out of family holidays during school term time due to travel companies' price hikes, calling it the Center Parcs tax and stating that taking the fine is cheaper.
Natalie Elliott
Lab
Darlington
Discussed family holidays and affordable times for families to travel.
Rupert Lowe
Ind
Great Yarmouth
He argues that parents should not be fined for taking their children out of school for family holidays and suggests three basic reforms: authorised term-time absence days, no fines for responsible parents, and headteachers' judgment empowerment.
Saqib Bhatti
Con
Meriden
He acknowledged the importance of holidays but pointed out that every school day missed is a lesson not learned. He highlighted the high absence rates, with an overall absence rate of 6.9% in 2024-25 and persistent absence at 18.7%, down from 21.2%. He also raised concerns about parents believing that time spent outside school does not affect students' future outcomes.
Shockat Adam
Ind
Leicester South
He agrees with the hon. Member's argument and questions whether fines will make the relationship between parents and schools more adversarial.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
Emphasises that a rounded education is about experiences and memories beyond classroom attendance. Calls for fairness and freedom in family choices during holiday times, highlighting the struggle of working families to afford holidays due to price hikes.
Tom Gordon
LD
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Supports the idea of expanding horizons through activities like the Great Yorkshire Show, advocating for schools to use their powers flexibly.
Government Response
Georgia Gould
The Minister for School Standards
Government Response
Acknowledged the importance of school attendance and noted the absence epidemic. Introduced a national framework for penalty notices, defining a 'support first' approach to work alongside families. Emphasised the Government's commitment to tackling persistent absence. Acknowledged progress in reducing absence, noted the importance of partnership with families facing persistent absence issues, welcomed diagnosis and support for young people, disagreed with views suggesting parents are abusing the system, highlighted evidence on attendance impacts, discussed flexibility in term dates and travel industry steps for special needs children.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.