There’s been another court victory for responsible parents who want to take their children on trips during term time, often in agreement with their schools, but who currently have to break the law to do so.
Parents who want to encourage their children to learn languages, be immersed in foreign culture, learn new skills and stay fit and healthy in the outdoors on a ski holiday but have no choice but to travel in term time, like many school-organised ski trips do, are currently subject to fines in England for doing so.
Prices for family ski holidays in school holiday periods can easily be more than double those in term time due to so many families from across Europe all wishing to go skiing in the same few weeks. This can make school holiday ski weeks unaffordable for many families.
However a test case brought be one parent against fines levied by the Isle of Wight Council under the draconian law, which has caught around 100,000 parents, led to victory for the father concerned at the High Court. In response the Government said they would challenge the ruling and bring in even stricter laws if necessary in a bid to stop parents deciding what is best for their children’s education and well-being.
However in a second case, this month, brought by another family, Salisbury Magistrates Court also overturned the fines levied on the parents.
According to the Daily Mirror the father concerned described the law as “pathetic” and the court’s decision “a victory for common sense.”
Commenting on the latest court decision Ian Hope, Programme Director of Esprit Ski, a family ski holiday specialist said,
“It is a fundamental right that parents should be allowed to make decisions that affect their family, whether it be based on social, educational or financial terms and we at Esprit recognise that for many families there is no choice except to take holidays during term time.”
Hope continued, “We couldn’t agree more that school has to be the absolute priority at key times running up to critical exams for example, that could affect a child’s long-term prospects. But at Esprit, we are not talking about teenagers about to take GCSE’s or A-levels, but about toddlers and children under 10, for whom the physical activity, self-confidence, social skills and family bonding a ski holiday involves are every bit as important – and we believe even more life-enhancing – than another 5 days in the classroom. At Esprit we are able to provide holidays for families throughout the winter, both in the school holidays as well as during the term.”
