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Term-time holiday fine rise won't stop us, say parents (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 2 months ago by thehatfox@lemmy.world to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk

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[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 23 points 2 months ago

It just strikes me as yet another fuck you to the poorer people. They don't get to go on holiday, but the wealthier do.

Look at prices during the school summer holidays - it is usually 2-4x higher. Poorer families can't afford that. I think it's beneficial for families to be able to occasionally have some respite from work/school, and do things they wouldn't usually do.

The least they could do is stagger the school holidays so that you don't have 90% of the UK taking them all at once.

There's an unbelievable amount of class warfare in this country.

[–] li10@feddit.uk 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Fair enough imo, what’s a kid going to remember, 10 days of school where they spent most their time pissing about, or a family holiday.

I don’t know the ins and outs, but I think there should be a threshold of like 10 days a year where it’s okay, as long as the kid has good attendance besides that and it’s not around exam time.

It’s punching down from the government as it’s a working class issue. Middle class can afford the peak holiday rates, poorer families can’t.

[–] thehatfox@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

Having a holiday threshold sounds like a good idea. Allow a set amount of days and fine beyond that to discourage excessive absence.

So long as it's not during exams or something I can't see the harm in allowing a 1-2 week holiday a year. It would be much fairer and more flexible for families, and less complicated than things like different areas having staggered term dates

[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

FInancially it's a complete no brainer:

Fines issued to each parent have gone up from £60 to £80 per child which will be doubled if it happens again within three years. Those with a third fine in a three-year period now face prosecution.

So every second year spend £160 per child you've got but save potentially thousands of pounds on out-of-season holidays.

[–] R1seUp@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago

Private schools finish for summer earlier too, so those with enough money to send their kids private, also benefit from cheaper holidays.

[–] Mex@feddit.uk 7 points 2 months ago

High attendance is important... 100% attendance is not.

[–] Zip2@feddit.uk 5 points 2 months ago

At least don’t impose the fines for the week or two before the summer holidays. Nothing educational happens then anyway.

[–] sirico@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago

I don't have kids but I've seen the prices, you can't punish people both ways, Places like centre parcs need to have a ban on price hikes during off-term periods.