School holiday deals on offer

Travel companies are reportedly to offer discounts of up to £400 per person during school holidays in an effort to help the Government cut term-time absences. According to the online news provider Ananova, companies including Thomas Cook, Kuoni, Virgin, Airtours and First Choice have signed up to the scheme, with discounts, free child places and free insurance being offered. The offers are reportedly bookable from 1-28 March for trips taken during the 2005 summer school holidays. A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills is quoted as saying: “The Government encourages parents to book holidays during the school holiday period because we believe that every day in school counts. “We are working with the DTI and ABTA to broker arrangements between major tour operators where the industry can offer discounts and other incentives such as free child places to encourage families to book holidays in school holiday periods.” Term-time holidays reportedly accounted for 15 per cent of school absence last year. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd