Parents take holidays during term

Almost half of parents take their children on holiday during term time in a bid to save money, a poll has suggested.

Meanwhile, 53% of parents said they were spending less on family holidays this year than in 2010. 

Parents in the East Midlands were the most likely to have taken their children out of school for a holiday in term time, despite their distance from major London airports such as Stansted and Luton. 

The poll of 2,000 parents with school-aged children found that 47% of those who had taken their youngsters on holiday in term time said the school had turned a blind eye.

And 46% said that the school “wasn’t happy” but no action was taken, the poll by travel company TripAdvisor showed.

Only 7% of parents had been fined over term-time breaks, although this figure rises to 17% in Scotland.

Of those who have not taken children out of school for holidays, more than a third (36%) said they would consider doing so in the future.

A total of 44% of British parents claimed Government spending cuts would directly impact their travel plans in 2011.

The survey also found that only 24% of parents who have flown with children under the age of three claim to have experienced negative reactions from fellow passengers.

TripAdvisor spokeswoman Emma O’Boyle said: “These findings will come as no surprise to all those parents who are seriously considering sacrificing the family holiday altogether this year.

“For many families, breaking the rules and taking their child out of school to avoid peak holiday costs is regarded as the only way they can afford a family holiday this year.”

Copyright © Press Association 2011