This week sees many families taking advantage of the half-term holidays and jetting off for a week in the mountains or some out-of-season sunshine.
Half-term is generally the easiest time for families to go on holiday, as children are off school and those without kids tend to wait until term time to venture abroad.
Yet research has revealed that more and more parents are willing to take their children out of school during term time in a bid to save more on a family holiday.
Research from Direct Line Travel Insurance has revealed that some 55 per cent of parents would take their children out of school for a holiday.
Not only that, but a further 48 per cent would even take their children out of school during important study periods such as GCSEs and A-Levels.
With family breaks during term time as much as £2,000 cheaper than over the school holidays, it’s little wonder so many parents are willing to pull their kids out of school.
According to data from tour operator loveholiday.com, an all-inclusive holiday for a family of four to the Maldives during the Easter holidays costs an average of £3,489.
Compare this to just a couple of weeks earlier, when prices averaged £1,680, and the potential for savings is huge.
“Travel outside of the school holidays is often significantly cheaper with a considerable price difference for a family of four,” said Alex Francis, from loveholiday.com.
The research by Direct Line Travel Insurance found that nearly half of parents – 43 per cent – do not know their school’s policy on taking children out during term-time.
Government advice is for headteachers to charge parents £50 for any unauthorised absence from school.
But given the potential savings that can be made from a term-time family holiday, it seems as though this policy is not really having the desired effect.
