JOHN Platt’s court ruling against a fine for taking his child on holiday in school time is a massive victory for one particular group – the holiday firms.

The cost of a holiday rockets out of term time. ‘It’s market forces’ they say, which is true. But it doesn’t help families.

Many working parents are restricted by their employers as to when they take annual leave.

The answer, according to some, is not to go abroad – have a simple, cheap stay-at-home holiday.

Often this option can be more costly than going aboard, e.g. if you want to have some fun at a theme park or just visit some attractions.

In the battle between parents and local authorities the real problem has been ignored - the pricing structure of holidays.

The solution has been to penalise parents.

The Government rightly says that children should only be allowed time off school for exceptional circumstances.

After this ruling they want to change the law and close the regular attendance loophole.

My solution is to give headteachers more powers of discretion – to look at all the circumstances and make a decision in the best interests of the child.

That may mean letting them go on holiday, especially if the head knows that the parents often spend little to no family time together.

They could also impose key conditions such as getting a plan from parents on how the work would be caught up, e.g. engaging a tutor or, if they are able, providing extra home tuition.

School, as I’ve said before, is not all about exams they should be part of the community.

Helping a family bond can be as educationally positive as learning what a fronted adverbial is – perhaps more so.

  • James D Williams is a lecturer in education at the University of Sussex School of Education and Social Work