EDUCATION bosses have welcomed £100 on the spot fines for parents who take their children on holiday during term time.

Today council chiefs welcomed the strategy as an extra weapon in the battle to keep pupils at their desks.

In East Lancashire the percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence has been steadily falling over the last four years.

But worst hit last year were Darwen Vale High School, Queen's Park High School in Blackburn, All Saints' Roman Catholic in Rossendale, Hollins Technology College in Accrington and Al-Islah Independent School, Blackburn. They had between 2.2 and 4.4 per cent of half days missed due to unauthorised absence.

While students are allowed 10 days discretionary time away from school each year, if advance permission is granted, concern is growing that many families are abusing the system to avoid paying peak prices for holidays.

Viv Clarke, head teacher of Gregson Lane Primary School in Brindle, said: "Children's attitudes to school are formed at a very early age, which is why it is so important that they are set clear boundaries. It is becoming the norm for parents to take children out of school in term time to benefit from cheaper deals without any consequences."

The fines are to be introduced as part of new anti-social behaviour legislation and will involve fixed penalty notices as well as court appearances.

Harry Devonport, assistant director of education and lifelong learning with Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The council recognises the importance of regular attendance to attainment at school.

"We have a team of education welfare officers who work with all the schools in the borough to maintain and improve attendance."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council's LEA said: " The decision as to whether parents can take their children on holiday during school time is that of the school and the school governors and does not initially involve the Local Education Authority.

"Under current legislation the regulations allow for children to be absent for anything up to 10 days within school time in any school year. "Schools prefer to have reasonable warning of any proposed holiday absence. Where it is appropriate, schools can prepare work packs for children.

"If schools and governors feel that they are not happy with the holiday absence then they may class it as unauthorised and the matter may then be referred to the County Council's Education Welfare Service who may decide to investigate the matter further."