Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan has called for "more trust and flexibility" from the Government on the rules for school term time holidays.

Fifteen MPs spoke during a debate in Westminster Hall yesterday (Oct 26), and called on the Government to reconsider the changes to school term time holiday policy that were introduced in September 2013.

Michelle Donelan MP said: “The existing situation is simply not fair. The changes in September allow headteachers to have discretion over emergency circumstances, but the term is subjective, so different schools judge those circumstances differently.

“One family in my constituency who had been through a traumatic time requested two weeks away together to get over their personal loss.

"They were not given that.

"In fact, they were fined, despite the fact that they promised, and did, keep up with their children’s primary school education while away.

"In other areas, I hear of cases where children were granted permission in similar circumstances. That seems unjust; it seems that in effect we have created a postcode lottery situation.”

The debate was led by Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay, and was called after a petition asking for parents to be allowed to take their children out of school for up to two weeks received more than 120,000 signatures.

“To make our education system less rigid and more understanding would enhance the relationship with parents," Miss Donelan added.

"Education relies on parents and guardians, in fact, they are vital.

"The current law creates a them and us mentality, which is the polar opposite of the ethos of from school to home, a partnership between parents and teachers. There needs to be much more trust and flexibility.

“It is only about two weeks’ absence. That is two weeks to offer children, especially from poorer backgrounds, the opportunity to have time with their family and be enriched.

"As a member of the party that stands for hard-working families and opportunities, I see that proposal as not only the best thing to do, but the right thing to do.”

Craig Langman is chairman of Parents Want a Say, a campaign group bringing together campaigners and groups across England and Wales who want to see the changes to the school attendance policy reversed.

The group believe the amendments to the term time family holiday rules under The Education Regulations 2006 which came into force on September 1, 2013, are unfairly criminalising hardworking families for wanting to enjoy affordable holidays together.

Mr Langman said: “Sadly the issues affecting families and the tourism sector are not isolated to this region alone.

"Families across the UK are finding it much harder to afford family holidays together during peak times, and the amendments to school holiday policy have exasperated the situation.

“This is why we believe that head teachers should be able to grant all children who have a good attendance record, up to two weeks holiday per year to enjoy quality time with their parents.”