Unauthorised absence of children

I would be interested to hear views on the Governments latest policy which has now made it impossible (or near impossible) to grant absence for children for holidays in term time. Do you think this is going to have an adverse affect on the tourism industry of European ski resorts by focussing the activity into a week after xmas and half term. Interestingly I heard a story the other day that a local school had done a risk assessment for their ski trip and decided not to go at half term as it was too busy and thus the risk of accidents was that much higher!

Thanks all

Most certainly it will effect the ski business. Tour operators may have to look at their rates at peak periods for one. I used to take my son low season January for cheaper rates or first week March for a bit of sun, now its Xmas. There is only so much capacity also.

It'll definitely make holidays much more difficult to book during school holidays, expecting pretty much everywhere to be absolutely packed!

We have two teenage children and have always holidayed during the official holidays (although we did take our youngest out of school for the last two days before the last summer hols)

As a parent, the only real motivation for avoiding school hols is to reduce costs. We've now skied over Christmas, over New Year and at Easter. No real problems encountered with crowds or difficulties with booking. We do book our accommodation and flights well in advance though.

I've never been convinced about taking children out of school for holidays (unless at primary school age)

Personally I welcome that they are cracking down on this but they will never stamp it out.

I don't have kids and that is MY choice - this means I can go skiing or on other holidays at times to suit me, at less cost and wont be bothered by other people's kids in the chalet/hotel/flight etc


Will enforcement affect the holiday industry? - maybe, but less than you may think. Lots of operators actively promote that their chalets do not allow children outside of school holiday weeks. It stands to reason that they do this because their is a large market for people who want "child free" ski weeks

Basically the market provides for demand....

I normally ask politly first and if they do not authorise I will take them out any how ....... let the goverment fine me or do their best to me ......... I have no guilt taking my child out of school, she has no sickness and apart from exam time I will continue to do what I have have done over the past eight years. :thumbup:

Ian Wickham wrote:I normally ask politly first and if they do not authorise I will take them out any how ....... let the goverment fine me or do their best to me ......... I have no guilt taking my child out of school, she has no sickness and apart from exam time I will continue to do what I have have done over the past eight years. :thumbup:

Couldn't have put it better myself.
I always take my daughter out of school to take advantage of the cheaper fares. In doing such we can afford to take multiple holidays (only one in school time) a year which gives us valuable, uninterrupted family time. And a quality family life is just as important as quality education.

Oh and don't forget the pending strikes.....thats a day in the bank!!!

Adam67 wrote: Tour operators may have to look at their rates at peak periods for one.

They will crank the prices even higher to cope with increased demand.