Parents make fun of term-time holiday rules in viral TikTok dance video

The pair are facing their third lot of fines after taking their kids out of school for a cut-price trip to Zante, but have no regrets...

A couple from Coventry have sparked a fierce debate after uploading a video of themselves seemingly mocking term-time holiday rules.

Brogan, 29 and Shane Cole, 30, can be seen gleefully strutting in their kitchen despite being landed with a local authority fine after taking their 2 kids away in term time.

The pair, who have 2 children, Archie 10, and Ellie 7, went to Zante in Greece for 11 days in May and returned to a £240 fine.

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In the video – which has already racked up almost 97k of likes and around 3.5k of comments – the couple dance across their kitchen while captions roll above them.

'When you receive a fine of the school for going on holiday' (sic) reads the first one, followed by 'but save 10x that for going in term time.'

@the_coles_official Its different if they have exams, but really dont see why we cant as parents take them out… IG - thecolesofficial let us know your feelings about this #relatable #school #thecoles #fyp ♬ Makeba

'We saved £2,000'

Mum Brogan admitted this is the 3rd time the family have gone on holiday during term time, and the 3rd time they have been fined for doing so.

However, she is unrepentant as she claims that even with the fines, their trips still work out much cheaper than travelling during the school breaks.

She also said she likes how it's 'quieter' abroad in term time.

'We saved £2,000 because we booked the holiday in term time,' she said. 'I told the school before we went away, and they just gave me the fine.'

Explaining the breakdown of the penalty issued by the local authority, the mum admitted it was a 'lot of money':

'The fine is £60 per person, and we had up until the 6th of July to pay it, or else it would double to £120pp. And there's 4 of us so it's a lot of money,' she said.

'It's my third time receiving it [the fine] just because it's so much cheaper and quieter going in term time.'

'They are our kids'

'Holiday companies make it so expensive to travel in summer, so that's why we do it,' she continued.

'We were really frustrated when we got [the penalty], because we feel that they are our own kids but yet we are having to pay fines for them.'

Creating memories

Further justifying their reasons for the breaks, Brogan said: 'They are our own children who we want to take away and create memories with. We want to take them to have a nice time away from their little worries, [away from] whatever it may be that's worrying them. To get away from normality.'

However, she said she felt that she and her partner were being 'punished' for wanting to do that.

'Not alone in the struggle'

She went on to urge other parents to speak out about the struggles families face to take their kids away, saying: 'People need to speak up about this to let other parents and carers know they are not alone in the struggle.'

'I honestly think it’s the holiday companies who are the problem if they brought prices down more people wouldn't go in term time, do you agree?'

'Should be able to take your kids away'

The thousands of comments on their post were mainly supportive, with many parents backing the couple's decision, claiming its the only affordable way to have a family holiday:

'Don’t think it should be allowed if u wanna take ur kids away u should be able too xx,' wrote one supporter, to which the Coles replied: We agree 👏'

'I see holidays as educational too 🙌🏼,' wrote another fan, to which the Coles responded 'Exactly this 👏'.

'If it was affordable in the school holidays then we wouldn't need to go in tern time 🙄 we do this for every holiday we have 6 kids £££££££££££££,' chipped in a third.

'Imagine how the teachers feel'

However, not everyone was in agreement with the pair:

'Imagine how the teachers feel. Would parents support teachers being able to book off 2 weeks a year?🤞' asked one critic.

'But how much do u then spend on those same no of weeks trying to entertain your kids or pay for childcare in summer holidays because you have to work?' queried another.

'Because teachers can be parents too and don’t have the same freedom to take their own kids out of school. Also LEARNING 😳?' replied someone else.

Thousands of children access our Holiday Activities and Food Clubs every year during the school holidays.

Find out more about the programme, if your family is eligible, and how you can get involved 👇https://t.co/socmpNxkdP#HAF2023 pic.twitter.com/ZADn0R89sT

— Department for Education (@educationgovuk) June 22, 2023

Will I be fined for taking kids out of school for holidays?

Once your child is registered at a school, the law says you must send them to school every day and on time.

Parents can be given a penalty notice or prosecuted for periods of unauthorised holidays.

Children must get an education between the school term after their 5th birthday and the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16.

Currently, parents who take their children away for more than 9.5 sessions are fined £60 per parent per pupil.

This is ALWAYS a subject that divides opinion.

But what do you think? Do you agree with the Coles that it's their kids, their decision, or do you think council's are right to impose fines? Let us know!

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