MOVES by travel companies to offer discounts on breaks taken during school holidays have been welcomed by Bolton education bosses and union officials.

The Government has joined forces with the travel industry to give family discounts and free child places during the peak holiday time, in a drive to tackle classroom absence.

The Every Lesson Counts campaign, to encourage parents to take breaks during school holidays, has been launched by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), in partnership with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the Federation of Tour Operators and tourism promoters VisitBritain.

Cllr Carole Swarbrick, Bolton Council's executive member for schools, said: "Absence from schools because of families taking holiday during term time is a problem.

"Not only because they are missing lessons but some children are being taken out during their SATs.

"This move is long overdue. A holiday is important for families and can also be educational.

"Headteachers have had to make the difficult decision whether to give the child permission or not.

"Holidays during school time are estimated to account for up to one in six of all absences from school."

Term-time breaks taken without permission are recorded as unauthorised absence and can trigger sanctions such as penalty notice fines.

Offers will be continuously updated as the campaign moves forward.

Among the deals for early booking for next year's summer holidays are:

l Up to £100 saving per adult on BA Holidays' 2006 Florida Summer holidays, with one child staying free.

l First child goes free at Butlins' holiday resorts. Family prices run from £209 for selected three and four night breaks over the February half term a saving of £69 per family.

l The first child goes free for selected summer 2006 family holidays with Airtours.

President of the Bolton branch of the National Union of Teachers, Jason Travis, said: "This is a good thing. Parents have too often been pilloried for taking holidays during school term, but for many parents it was either that or no holiday at all."

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith said: "Taking a holiday during term-time can mean that children miss important school time and coursework.

"A term-time holiday is all too often seen as the rule, when it should be the exception."

Keith Betton, head of corporate affairs at ABTA, said: "We are pleased to be working with the DfES on this important campaign.

"Although holidays bought in the UK are some of the most competitively priced in the world, supply and demand can lead to price difference in periods of peak demand.

"This campaign gives families an excellent opportunity to plan and book early to keep holiday costs down."