Ministers are to implement a pioneering scheme, first trialled in East Sussex, aimed at cutting truancy levels by offering parents cheaper holidays during official breaks.

East Sussex County Council teamed up with national travel operators earlier this year to give reduced prices on all family summer holidays in 2005 booked during March.

The aim was to improve school attendance by rewarding parents who keep their children in lessons during term-time.

Councillor Keith Glazier, responsible for education, said many parents had told them they found it difficult to afford a break during school holidays as prices were much higher.

Now the scheme is set to be widened.

The Department for Education and the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) have announced a joint initiative to spread the East Sussex scheme nationwide.

It will include incentives such as free places for children and hundreds of pounds off family holidays which are booked early.

From November, early booking holiday deals will be promoted through a dedicated web site for the campaign, called Every Lesson Counts.

Abta and the main tour operators, including Thomas Cook, Kuoni, Virgin and others are also expected to promote deals for the Christmas break and next year's summer holidays.

The Government is preparing to publish the latest truancy figures this week.

A spokesman for Abta said: "The UK travel industry is one of the most competitively priced in the world, while recognising that supply and demand can lead to price differences in periods of peak demand.

"Booking early for the school holidays means families can keep holiday costs down and everyone can take a break without missing school.

Headteachers have been taking an increasingly tough line with parents who remove their children from school to go on holiday.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "Taking a holiday during term-time can mean children miss important school time and coursework.

"A term-time holiday is all too often seen as the rule - it should be the exception."

Monday, September 19, 2005