Sunderland strikes holiday cash deal

Sunderland Local Education Authority has made a deal with a travel
agent to offer discounts to parents who take their children away in
official school holidays.

The LEA has made the arrangement to try to improve school
attendance among primary school children.

Sunderland-based Hays Travel is offering parents a 10 per cent
discount to encourage them not to take their children on holiday in
term time. The LEA estimates that the discounts, which run until 31
August 2005, could save an average family £180.

The LEA estimates that about 14 per cent of school absences are due
to children going on holiday in term time.