BY BETH GREGORY

THE Local Government Association (LGA) has requested a ‘common sense approach’ needs to be applied to parents taking their children out of school for vacation during term time.

Since 2013, new rules meant that children were only to miss school in ‘exceptional circumstances’, if granted by the head teacher.

Parents can be fined between £60 and £120. If prosecuted, they also face a £2,500 fine, a community order, or up to three months in prison.

But the LGA says this system 'does not always favour families'.

Statistics show that 86,010 fines had been issued by 98 councils in 2014-15 for pupil absence - either because of holiday or truancy.

This compares to the 32,512 in 2012-13, and 62,204 in 2013-14.

A major reason for this is the reduction in costs during term time.

Schools Minister Mr Gibb said taking children out of class can disrupt teachers’ planning affect the education of other children and affect the child themselves.

"Our data shows that just a week off per year leading up to the GCSE courses can reduce the chances of that child getting good GCSEs by about a quarter," he said.

Taking a primary school pupil out of school for a week will not affect their GCSEs nine years later; I think this largely depends on the ability and age of the student, and the time of year the absence occurs.

I think a new approach to this is a good idea; to work more appropriately with families.