Tight budgets 'drive parents to term-time holidays'

The economic downturn and tight household budgets mean that an increasing number of parents are opting to take their children on term-time holidays to Spain and other destinations, it has been suggested.

Catherine Hanly, associate editor at Mumsnet, said it is an issue that comes up time and again.

"It's really not surprising, given the price hike that happens during school holidays, that families choose to take their children on holiday during term-time," she commented.

The Department of Education revealed last week that an increasing number of primary school children are missing school in order to take family breaks abroad.

Ms Hanley noted that generally, the younger a child is, the more relaxed parents are about giving them time off to take holidays to Spain and elsewhere.

"Broadly speaking, if the holiday is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity parents were much more supportive of the decision to take a holiday in term time," she added.

Posted by Emily Sanders