Parents urged to accept new policy

Parents are being urged to act responsibly after plans cracking down on term-time holidays were deferred for a year by the Department of Education.

Traditionally, parents have been allowed to take their children out of school for up to ten days during term-time.

However, amid concerns pupils could fall behind in class, education chiefs this week warned unauthorised absences could ultimately lead to court action.

The new approach has now been delayed until September 2009, but Minister Anne Craine (pictured) hopes parents accept the spirit of the policy when making bookings: