A mum has waded into the term-time holiday debate by explaining how much money she's saved on unauthorised trips.
As the summer holidays come ever closer, the window for taking kids away on an illicit pre-break-trip somewhere sunny is getting smaller and smaller.
Those who play by the rules and don't take their kids out of school without permission face paying bumped up prices during the six-week high season.
Those who don't can save hundreds if not thousands of pounds while booking the same trip, due to a lack of demand keeping prices low.
What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
Rachel Smith, from Essex, has opened up about doing the latter and taking her two kids out of school for five nights in May and seven days in June.
The 32-year-old argued that the children are still "learning" even when they're abroad.
"So it really does appear that a lot of people have got an opinion about me for taking my children out of school in term time to go on holiday," she said on her Tiktok account.
"But let's just clear a few things up.
"First of all, when we’re away on holiday, my children are learning a new language, they’re learning about a different culture and they’re experiencing the real world.
"They’re always learning, it’s not just in a classroom."
Rachel compared going away to having chickenpox, suggesting that "nobody worries about their education" when children fall ill.
"So what’s the problem?" she concluded.
In a later video the 32-year-old explained that she had received a £60 fine for her son and another for her daughter for their June holiday.
"But still nothing for our May holiday, so I think I’ve got away with that one," she said.
Have you been fined for taking your kids out of school for holidays? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com.
"In total I’ve got to pay £120 in fines for the holiday I took them on in June.
"Now, looking at the bigger picture, my holiday would have cost an additional £2,500 if I had gone in school holiday, so overall, I’m feeling like this is a win."
Rachel also received a letter warning her about her son's poor attendance rate due to the holiday, a week he needed off with Covid, and three weeks he had off for an operation.
"I did get a warning letter saying that the council would be contacted or the local authorities would be contacted, and basically it would be down to them because of the attendance," she explained.
In the comments the vast majority of people seemed to back Rachel up.
"Pay the fines and have a great hol, it’s a bargain £100 fine," one man wrote.
A woman added: "Have a great time!! No need to justify it!! Xx"
Another commenter agreed: "Sod em, they are your kids, you do what's best for them."
There was little pushback from people, with few arguing that the education of Rachel's children in the classroom was important and carefully planned out by the school.
Some warned the mum not to get cocky and be wary that the fines could start rising.
"We've done it, got a fine, which was what we expected, but it says after the first offence if you do it again they are allowed to fine up to £1000," one commenter said.
Another added: "Just be careful we thought the same then got fined £1300."
In the comments on another of her videos, someone wrote: "Please remember the school are just doing what the government say.
"The fines go to the government."
Sign up to the Mirror's travel newsletter for more updates, tips and holiday deals.
