10-day term time school holiday update as campaigners hit key threshold

A campaign to press for 10 days holiday during term time has reached a key point. A petition on the parliament website is urging the government to introduce new rules for parents with children who have special educational needs.

If people book breaks during term time, it’s a well-known fact that the prices soar. However, the petition, which can be seen here, also explains that for children with special educational needs, going at the busiest time when it is crowded can be a traumatic experience.

Over the weekend, the petition, which calls on the Department for Education to allow families with SEN children 10 days term-time holiday without being fined, reached a key threshold - 10,000 signatures means officials must make an official response answering the points raised and explaining if action is possible.

The petition, which was created by Nicola Marie Wardle, says: “We believe SEN children are already excluded from society and education. Many children with disabilities or SEN can find it hard to deal with crowds, noise and the general hustle and bustle of travelling in peak times. Yet, these families are penalised for removing children from school for holidays.

“It’s not the case that these families fancy being awkward, simply that their children cannot cope. We feel this leaves those families with two choices, go in school holidays and spend most of the time stressed, or ask for flexibility. We believe this would give these families the same chance to a break as families without SEN.”

The Department for Education has said to parents: “You can send your child to school or educate them yourself. Children must get an education between the school term after their 5th birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16.

“You’ll be contacted by either:

“the school - if your child is enrolled in school and does not turn up (even if they’re only absent for a day)

“the council’s education welfare officer - if they think your child is not getting a suitable education at home

“You can be prosecuted if you do not give your child an education. You’ll normally get warnings and offers of help from the local council first.”

On the subject of taking children out of school in term time for holidays it says: “There may be other exceptional circumstances where you can ask to take your child out of school. Your school will consider each application and may let you take your child out of school.

“A holiday is generally not considered an exceptional circumstance. You cannot usually take your child away during term time.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson last week said that while she understands families wanting a break together, they must think of others. She said: “If children are not in school, that doesn’t just have an impact on your own child, it has an impact on the whole class.

“Because what teachers tell me is that they have to cover lessons over again to help children with their catch up.” And she added: “If parents then choose to take their child on termtime holidays that does have knock on consequences for everyone.

“And I think it’s about our responsibility not just to our own children, but our responsibility to the whole school community.” Ms Phillipson has previously said she would talk to travel chiefs about pricing, while her Cabinet colleague Heidi Alexander urged airlines to “do the right thing”.

To view the petition and to support it click here.