Discounts to keep kids in school

Parents in Staffordshire are to be offered holiday discounts as a reward for not taking children out of school during term time.

The pilot scheme by the county council aims to make it cheaper for families to take trips during the school holidays, which is usually a more expensive time.

Parents get a special form stamped by the child's school which is given to the travel firm as the trip is booked.

The council said it hoped the scheme would cut unauthorised absences.

'No right'

Free child places will also be offered by travel operators as an incentive.

Gaynor Nunnick, Staffordshire's principal education welfare officer, said: "Pupils do not have an automatic right to holidays during term time.

"However, we do appreciate that the extra costs involved in taking the family on holiday in school holidays are a major turn-off, hence this innovative scheme to tackle the problem."

As the scheme is at trial stage, discounts and offers are limited and apply to holidays booked between 1 March and 28 March.

Holidays have to be taken during the summer 2005 school holidays.

The project is supported by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Federation of Tour Operators and the Association of British Travel Agents.