The term-time holiday debate

I would have gone to jail

JON PLATT was prepared to go to jail to fight for his right to take his child out of school for a holiday.

Last month, he won an English High Court victory after he refused to pay a £120 truancy fine issued after he took his daughter out of lessons to go to Disney World in Florida.

The High Court upheld the magistrates’ decision that Mr Platt, from the Isle of Wight, had no case to answer as his daughter had attended school regularly overall.

“I risked a criminal record to prove a point,” Jon said.

Jon, who has two daughters and a stepson, said: “I’ve taken my kids out of school for holidays many times – because I fundamentally believe holidays are good for them.

“Childhoods are too short. Before I know it, they’ll be teenagers wanting to go off on their own to Ibiza rather than Disney, so I’m seizing the opportunity to have these experiences with them while I can.

“When I was a kid, our family couldn’t afford holidays abroad, so I want to spend every penny I have making sure my kids can.

“My decision is influenced by cost. You pay double or treble the termtime cost to go away during school holidays. In fact, once it cost us five times as much.

“But also because I know that one week of the year isn’t harming their education. All three of the children are doing amazingly at school and it hasn’t in any way affected their attainment levels.

“In the UK, we actually educate our children too much. Private schools have 23 days less term time than state schools and their attainment levels are higher.

“Since the Florida holiday I’ve taken her out of school again. We got a fine, but I refused to pay again.

“Going to court could have cost me tens of thousands of pounds, but it would be worth every p penny if it helps another p parent.

“There are many reasons w why some families can only h holiday together outwith t the school breaks, like p parents not being able to g get time off work, and it is f far better to take the kids o out of school than not go o on holiday at all.

“Spending time together a as a family is so important and the time to be able to do that doesn’t last forever.”