Letter: Dilemma of taking children on term-time holiday

Sir: Susan Elkin is absolutely right to draw attention to the anachronism of sanctioned term-time holidays for schoolchildren. Apart from disruption in the classroom caused by returning holiday-makers who expect topics to be explained again for their benefit, the practice is socially divisive.

Children who have never had a holiday away from home, let alone a glamorous hotel holiday on the Continent, have a constant stream of returning, bronzed classmates bragging about the luxury and excellence of their trips. This, of course, happens in September, but it should be over in a week or two when everyone from whatever backgrounds can settle down to work together.

Yours faithfully,

MARY ERDOZAIN

Preston, Lancashire

10 June