Allow each child one flexible week off school per year outside standard holidays

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

We call on the government to require all schools in the UK to allow each child one week of authorised absence per academic year, taken at any time with reasonable notice. This would help working families take affordable holidays outside peak school holiday times.

School holidays force families to travel at peak times when prices are highest, making holidays unaffordable for many, especially larger or low-income families. Allowing each child one flexible week off per school year with 4 weeks' notice, would ease financial pressure, reduce inequality, and support family wellbeing. Education matters but so does family time. We ask the UK Government and Department for Education to support this fair, family-friendly change.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

The following petition calls for a similar action:

Allow parents to take their children out of school for 5 school days in a year
Allow parents to take their children out of school for 5 school days in a year

Timeline

7 Aug 2025	Petition opened for signatures
15 Aug 2025	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21

Status Rejected

Rejected 15 Aug 2025

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