Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled that parents can be criminalised for taking their children out of school without permission during term-time.
A new survey from GoCompare Travel Insurance, found that more than half (53%) of parents of school-age kids would be prepared for their children to miss five or more school days per academic year in order to go on holiday.
11% of parents also revealed that they would lie to the school about these absences, “reporting their kids as sick when they are in fact on a term-time holiday.”
Ella Hastings from GoCompare Travel Insurance, said: "Britain’s parents are stuck between a rock and a hard place, facing fines for taking their kids out of school during term-time, or being left out of pocket by the price of family getaways during the school holidays.”
Parents taking a child out of school without permission risk a £60 fine, which doubles to £120 if unpaid after 21 days. If the fine still isn’t paid after 28 days, parents face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500, or a maximum three-month jail sentence.
On average, the parents of school-aged children surveyed estimated holidaying during peak school holiday periods adds an extra £651.60 to the cost of their getaway; 16% reckon they could save over £1,000 by holidaying in term-time.
Hastings added: ”With no leeway on when they can go on holiday, families with school-aged kids are effectively being charged a family travel tax.
“This may explain why, despite term-time holidays being criminalised, many families say they are still prepared to take their kids out of lessons to have a family holiday."
