NUT call for school holiday reform

The NUT has sparked debate by saying pupils should be able to skip school to go on holiday without their parents being penalised.

About 1,200 delegates attending the the union's national conference will vote on the parental fines motion this afternoon (Saturday).

The motion seeks to repeal the relevant amendments to the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2013, which has led to parents taking children out of school being fined unless there are “exceptional circumstances”.

If passed, as expected, the motion will be adopted as policy by the NUT’s membership of more than 330,000 delegates nationally.

As well as seeking to change school rules, it is targeting the travel trade with part of the motion stating it would “support calls for action to be taken against holiday companies and airlines who unfairly raise their prices at peak times.”

It adds: “Conference believes that much greater pressure needs to be put by government on holiday companies and airlines to change their unfair pricing structures.”

The motion also calls on schools to interpret the existing regulations “in a way that
allows families to take term-time holidays in exceptional circumstances with parents and students agreeing suitable arrangements to catch up on schooling missed as a result”.

It also seeks to “promote the value of family holidays, with an emphasis on outdoor learning” and the emotional and social benefits of a holiday.

Union leaders said holidays are now the preserve of the rich thanks to harsher rules which punish families who go away in off-peak times.

Christine Blower said: ‘If you are a family who doesn’t have much disposable income – and we know that the poor are getting poorer – then they are going to miss out on this. It shouldn’t be that the opportunity for a family holiday is the preserve of the middle classes

She added: "We’re not saying that it’s fine for children to be out of school at the drop of a hat. But a week’s holiday can be a very positive thing in a child’s life, particularly if they won’t otherwise get one and will see their friends going on one."

Fines of up to £1,000 have been levied at parents since the policy, aimed at cutting school absenteeism, was introduced in 2013.