Attendance is a major issue for schools right now and the introduction of higher fines for term-time holidays is one of the measures being taken to try to tackle the problem.
It was the former Conservative government which decided to increase the fines from £60 a week, (per child, per parent) up to £80 a week, before the increase came into force under the new Labour administration.
For a typical family of two adults and two children, it means a two-week holiday during term-time could end up costing them an extra £480.
And the cost ramps up if not paid within three weeks. Read more: Parents given back to school warning over ‘life-threatening’ reaction But what they can save by travelling off-peak can run into the thousands, which is why some parents are opting to do so.