In a bold move to alleviate financial pressures on families, the prominent travel retailer On the Beach is advocating for schools to stagger regional inset weeks. This initiative aims to mitigate the steep price hikes during peak holiday seasons, potentially saving families of four hundreds of pounds per trip while curbing fines for unauthorised school absences.
The Growing Trend of Term-Time Travel
To escape the exorbitant markups of peak-season travel, a significant number of parents are opting to remove their children from school to take advantage of lower off-peak prices. Recent data reveals that one third of parents admitted to taking their children out of education during the 2024/25 school year, and this trend shows no signs of abating. Astonishingly, one in two parents are planning a holiday that involves taking their kids out of school in the current 2025/26 academic year.
Financial and Legal Risks
However, the financial risks associated with term-time travel are substantial. Last year, nearly half a million families across the UK were fined by the Department for Education for unauthorised absences. In England and Wales, parents face Fixed Penalty Notices of £80 for their child's non-attendance, which escalates to £160 if not paid within 21 days. This punitive system places an additional burden on families already struggling with holiday costs.
The Proposed Solution: Inset Weeks
According to researchers at On the Beach, headteachers in England and Wales hold the key to making family trips more affordable. They propose grouping the five mandatory teacher training days into a single, regionally staggered 'inset week.' This strategic scheduling could unlock significantly lower travel costs for parents by reducing demand during peak periods, thereby lowering hotel and flight prices. Simultaneously, it aims to cut term-time absences and boost overall school attendance.
Campaign Momentum and Parental Support
On the Beach has launched a new campaign urging parents to write to their child's school to request an inset week. The company is providing ready-to-send letters, emails, and WhatsApp messages to facilitate this effort. The campaign is already gaining traction, with nearly three-quarters of UK-based parents expressing interest in joining the call for inset weeks. In an open letter, headteachers are encouraged to reconsider how they schedule teacher training days, essentially creating a loophole for families to book cheaper holidays without breaking rules.
Success Stories and Testimonials
Currently, only 1 per cent of schools operate inset weeks, but those that do report positive outcomes. Python Hill Academy in Nottinghamshire is one such institution supporting On the Beach's campaign. Principal Andy Stirland stated, 'We have been running an inset week, which is tagged onto the spring bank holiday in May, for the last seven years. Parents should not be faced with fines or enforcement for wanting to spend family time together.' He added that the inset week has allowed families at the school to opt for cheaper holidays while maintaining attendance figures above the national average.
Parent Katelyn Greenway, who was fined for a term-time holiday, shared her perspective: 'I emailed my child's headteacher this morning to ask for an inset week. It would make such a difference to us, we could afford a holiday without breaking the rules or feeling guilty about taking time off school.'
Industry and Educational Insights
Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, emphasised the frustration many families face: 'Families shouldn't have to choose between following the rules and being able to afford time away together. The real frustration we hear is that parents can see cheaper off-peak holidays, but there's no straightforward way to access them without their children missing school, and that's exactly where inset weeks can help.' She highlighted that approximately 25,000 headteachers could play a pivotal role in enabling more families to enjoy affordable holidays, boosting attendance, and addressing a persistent issue that the Department for Education has struggled to resolve.
In summary, the push for staggered inset weeks represents a innovative approach to tackling the dual challenges of high holiday costs and school attendance. By aligning teacher training schedules with regional variations, schools could provide a practical solution that benefits families, educators, and the broader community, fostering a more balanced and affordable travel landscape.
