Laura Melling, a mum-of-two, is willing to take the fine and the potential hit to her children’s schooling. She claims she’s saving herself a fortune by going against the rules and taking her kids away as and when she pleases
The Melling family love going on term-time holidays(Image: Jam Press)
A mum saves £3,000 on each family holiday by taking her kids away during term-time.
It’s no secret that holiday prices soar during the school holidays. According to Go Compare, the high demand for a break away with the kids during the Easter holidays saw trips rise by 9% compared to non-peak periods.
And with the ongoing war between Iran and the US causing fuel shortage scares, some airlines are raising fares to combat jet fuel price increases. It’s a never-ending battle, particularly for state school families who don’t have the luxury of the long holidays as those in the private sector.
In a bid to tackle absenteeism among kids whose parents want to jet away during term time, many schools now fine £80 per parent, per child for any unauthorized absences up to five days outside of official holidays.
Laura Melling, a mum-of-two, is willing to take the fine and the potential hit to her children’s schooling. She claims she’s saving herself a fortune by going against the rules and taking her kids away as and when she pleases.
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“It’s ridiculous, they’re my children – not the school’s,” the nurse, from Leyland, told creatorzine.com. “It works out cheaper to pay the fine than school holiday prices. I don’t feel guilty in the slightest. My kids are having the best experiences rather than sitting in a boring classroom.
“And we’re saving a fortune. It’s a no-brainer.”
Laura, 36, and her husband, Paul, 37, have shelled out over £500 in fines to date. But by jetting off during term-time, they’re saving themselves an estimated £3,000 per trip. And the mum to Lucy, eight, and Emily, seven, admits that teachers aren’t usually too displeased with their decision.
She said: “The teachers are usually supportive and say they wish they could do it. All the parents agree with me too. A few of them have followed suit after seeing us do it.”
So far, they’ve been to Egypt, Tunisia and France. And they’ve never paid more than £1,000 to get away for a week.
Earlier this year the family flew to Lapland. Instead of forking out £700-per-person for the flights in December, they went at the start of term in January, costing just £40-per-head. Their car hire was £189, rather than £545 during the school holidays and their accommodation came to just £500 instead of £1,900. In total, it saved them £2,946.
Laura added: “My kids are learning life skills. They learn in different ways when away, so we’re not neglecting their education. They have learning apps on their iPads and workbooks to complete.
“I would love to [take them out of school full-time], however, I don’t think our balance would cope; we need to work. My children are realising the world is a big place and they are now seeing different cultures.
“Everyone needs a break from the mundane, so being away gives us all time to relax and enjoy each other’s company without being stuck in a routine.”
Currently, parents whose children miss school without a good reason are initially given a fixed penalty notice of £80, which rises to £160 if not paid within 21 days. If the increased fine is then not paid within 28 days, or a child is off school three or more times within three years, the matter can be taken to magistrates’ court.
The court can fine parents up to £2,500, issue a community order, a parenting order or, in the most extreme cases, hand out a prison sentence of up to three months.
The Department for Education is attempting to tackle the scourge of absenteeism, which can impact a child’s prospects and disrupt the classroom.
Its spokesperson told the BBC: “Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to give children growing up in our country the best start in life. But that can only happen if a strong foundation for learning is built through children regularly attending school.
“We have already made significant progress with five million more days in school in last academic year and 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent. Poor attendance damages children’s prospects and term time holidays place the burden on teachers to support missed learning – affecting the entire class. That’s why fines have a vital place in our system, so everyone is held accountable for ensuring our children are in school.”