Speakman speaks out on term time holidays

Tuesday, 23 Jan, 2014 0

Travel Counsellors boss David Speakman has joined the debate about flexible school holidays.

In a blog on the homeworking group’s website, he has condemned new laws that mean parents can be fined and even jailed if they take their children on holiday during term time.

"It is a sorry state of affairs that anyone would seek to criminalise a parent that takes a child on a family holiday," said Speakman.

He suggested local councils close down schools for certain weeks of the year, or "just allow the school to concentrate on a more relaxed curriculum".

"Those who decide not to can still turn up for school but the subject would be countries abroad," he said.

Meanwhile, ABTA is also putting pressure on local authorities to stagger term times.

Under the new laws, councils are allowed to be more flexible when setting dates.

The debate was sparked after a couple from Shropshire were fined £1,000 for taking their children out of school to go on holiday.

Under new laws, if parents refuse to pay the fines, they could be jailed for up to three months.

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Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.

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