{"id":205174,"date":"2024-05-24T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=205174"},"modified":"2024-05-23T23:15:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T22:15:41","slug":"butlins-accused-of-undermining-school-absence-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/butlins-accused-of-undermining-school-absence-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"Butlin\u2019s accused of \u2018undermining\u2019 school absence fight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Butlin\u2019s has been accused of \u201cundermining\u201d schools\u2019 work to boost attendance by advertising \u201cterm-time breaks\u201d<\/a> as \u201cgreat-value getaways\u201d for families with a \u201chard-to-please teen on your hands\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The holiday firm offers four-night \u201cshowtime term-time midweek breaks\u201d<\/a> from just \u00a313 per person, much cheaper than rates during school holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some activities are aimed at pre-school youngsters \u2013 such as one featuring cartoon character Peppa Pig \u2013 others featuring Optimus Prime, a robot from Transformers, seem to be targeted at older children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Posing as a parent, we asked the firm if the holidays were suitable for school-aged children. A customer care representative said that \u201call breaks are suitable for all ages\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Undermines schools\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ministers are pushing hard for schools to improve their attendance rates, which are much lower than before Covid. Persistent absence rates are nearly double those in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Term-time holidays drive record unauthorised school absence fines<\/a><\/blockquote>