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| 'Scrap ban' on term-time holidays | 'Scrap ban' on term-time holidays |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The ban on term-time holidays from school should be scrapped so head teachers can take a "common-sense approach", say council leaders. | The ban on term-time holidays from school should be scrapped so head teachers can take a "common-sense approach", say council leaders. |
| Since September last year, local authorities have been obliged to fine parents who take children out of school for unauthorised absences. | Since September last year, local authorities have been obliged to fine parents who take children out of school for unauthorised absences. |
| But the Local Government Association says an outright ban does not recognise the complexities of family life. | But the Local Government Association says an outright ban does not recognise the complexities of family life. |
| A Department for Education spokeswoman said heads still had flexibility. | A Department for Education spokeswoman said heads still had flexibility. |
| Until last September, heads could grant up to 10 days' leave a year for family holidays in "special circumstances". | Until last September, heads could grant up to 10 days' leave a year for family holidays in "special circumstances". |
| But now head teachers can only grant absence outside school holidays under "exceptional circumstances". | But now head teachers can only grant absence outside school holidays under "exceptional circumstances". |
| And local authorities are obliged to instigate fines and enforce legal proceedings on behalf of schools. | And local authorities are obliged to instigate fines and enforce legal proceedings on behalf of schools. |
| This means parents who take children out of school during term-time, often to avoid very high holiday costs, can receive automatic penalty notices of £60 per child. This rises to £120 if not paid within 21 days. | This means parents who take children out of school during term-time, often to avoid very high holiday costs, can receive automatic penalty notices of £60 per child. This rises to £120 if not paid within 21 days. |
| Parents who fail to pay could face prosecution and a maximum fine of £2,500 or a jail sentence of up to three months. | Parents who fail to pay could face prosecution and a maximum fine of £2,500 or a jail sentence of up to three months. |
| The LGA said that while councils fully supported the Department for Education's stance that every child should be in school every day, there were occasions when circumstances should be given individual consideration. | The LGA said that while councils fully supported the Department for Education's stance that every child should be in school every day, there were occasions when circumstances should be given individual consideration. |
| These might include religious festivals, weddings, funerals or even once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. | These might include religious festivals, weddings, funerals or even once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. |
| 'Black and white' | 'Black and white' |
| David Simmonds, chairman of the LGA's children and young people board, said: "Ensuring every child has a good school attendance is of paramount concern for everyone working with children. | David Simmonds, chairman of the LGA's children and young people board, said: "Ensuring every child has a good school attendance is of paramount concern for everyone working with children. |
| "However, common sense must prevail in cases when mums and dads ask to take their child out of school during term-time if there is a legitimate reason. | "However, common sense must prevail in cases when mums and dads ask to take their child out of school during term-time if there is a legitimate reason. |
| "An outright ban is too simplistic and doesn't recognise that family life and circumstances aren't always so black and white. | "An outright ban is too simplistic and doesn't recognise that family life and circumstances aren't always so black and white. |
| "We shouldn't have a system where family holidays are just for the rich or indeed children aren't able to take time off in light of family bereavement. | "We shouldn't have a system where family holidays are just for the rich or indeed children aren't able to take time off in light of family bereavement. |
| "There needs to be flexibility within the system." | "There needs to be flexibility within the system." |
| He added that head teachers knew their families' circumstances and "should be trusted to make decisions without being forced to issue fines and start prosecutions". | He added that head teachers knew their families' circumstances and "should be trusted to make decisions without being forced to issue fines and start prosecutions". |
| Weddings | Weddings |
| Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Many teachers are parents, and we entirely sympathise with the dilemma caused by price hikes for breaks during the school holidays. However, it remains the case that for children to be learning they need to be in school. | Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Many teachers are parents, and we entirely sympathise with the dilemma caused by price hikes for breaks during the school holidays. However, it remains the case that for children to be learning they need to be in school. |
| "Pupils can already be granted time off school in exceptional circumstances. To allow children to be absent from school could be disruptive and would be an additional burden on teachers if children have to catch up on their return from lessons they have missed." | "Pupils can already be granted time off school in exceptional circumstances. To allow children to be absent from school could be disruptive and would be an additional burden on teachers if children have to catch up on their return from lessons they have missed." |
| Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Brian Lightman said there already was flexibility to allow children to miss school in "exceptional circumstances" such as a family wedding, but these should be extraordinary and rare. | Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Brian Lightman said there already was flexibility to allow children to miss school in "exceptional circumstances" such as a family wedding, but these should be extraordinary and rare. |
| He said: "We sympathise with parents' plight, but the way to address this problem is to tackle the holiday companies that charge extortionate fees, not to allow more children to miss out on school. In this case we agree with the [Department for Education] completely." | He said: "We sympathise with parents' plight, but the way to address this problem is to tackle the holiday companies that charge extortionate fees, not to allow more children to miss out on school. In this case we agree with the [Department for Education] completely." |
| But a spokeswoman for the Department for Education said that heads had the option of allowing time off if necessary. | But a spokeswoman for the Department for Education said that heads had the option of allowing time off if necessary. |
| "We have been clear that all head teachers are free to grant pupils leave in exceptional circumstances. | "We have been clear that all head teachers are free to grant pupils leave in exceptional circumstances. |
| "It is up to them to decide whether to grant time off, and how much to grant. This appears to be exactly what the LGA is calling for." | "It is up to them to decide whether to grant time off, and how much to grant. This appears to be exactly what the LGA is calling for." |
| What do you think about the proposals by council leaders? You can send in your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |