The thing I don’t get though, is that can’t you just lie and pretend your kids are sick? At least for a week. I suppose two weeks might be more difficult, I was never off school for that long as a kid so dunno if you have to provide some kinda proof if it’s that long.

Or do you have to provide some kind of doctor’s note for even a week now? I wasn’t even off for a full week to be fair so maybe I’m just unaware…

From a financial point of view paying £240 to save £3,000 makes complete sense.

Shame my other half is a teacher, otherwise we might think about doing the same.

Saving £3000 should always be applauded.

Basically poor kids aren’t allowed to go on holiday. Aren’t allowed to go during term time, can’t afford to go during holidays. It’s such a dystopic rule.

Totally agree with her. The experiences on that holiday will last a life time. I seriously doubt that whatever they missed in those weeks will have any impact on their lives.

The £240 fine is well worth the savings they made.

Given that the entire countries school system starts and breaks up at the same time you get an absurd system that holiday companies are able to rinse parents wanting to get away with their kids.

And since it isn’t tied to income it essentially ends up as a tax on poor people who aren’t able to afford the fines or the additional cost of taking them out during holiday times.

It’s a crap system that wouldn’t actually be that difficult to fix if they put some thought into it

Mrs Melling said she took her children out of school during term due to the “unbelievable price” of holidays in the summer months.

One travel agent told the BBC that holiday costs can be as much as 40% higher during the school holidays.

“It was £5,500 to go in the summer and to go in February it was £2,500, it’s a no brainer,” Mrs Melling said.

Yes, the reason it costs more is because everyone else is following the rules