EVERY parent of school-age children is being warned not to take them out of class to go on holiday.

Education bosses are next week sending a letter to 28,000 parents saying that missed lessons can cost a child dear.

They say the problem is getting worse, with up to 14,000 school days lost last year in Bury high schools alone.

Some parents are even taking their children away when they should be sitting GCSEs and SATs.

Mr Alan Cogswell, Bury's head of education welfare, said this was "a bigger problem than truancy". He estimated that 30 per cent of pupils every year went on holiday in term-time, for a day or up to a fortnight.

Mr Cogswell said: "Parents must take their responsibilities seriously for ensuring regular attendance of their children at school.

"If they take the family holiday in school time every year, during their school life a child will have lost more than six months education.

"We have examples of pupils missing their SATs tests, and of even more concern, missing GCSE examinations. What message does that give to our young people?"

He reminded parents that they did not have a right to take children out of school for holidays -- it was at the school's discretion to authorise the absence.

"We understand the difficulties families face with the cost of holidays," he said. "But we want the Government to tackle the travel industry in terms of pricing policy, alongside the efforts we are making.

"I urge parents to request time off school for holidays only in situations where they have to take specific dates because of their employment."

Councillor Steve Perkins, executive member for lifelong learning, said: "Although a head teacher has the power to deny a family's request for leave of absence, they face considerable pressure from both families and the consequential effect on published statistics of unauthorised absence.

"Even if head teachers take a stance, parents can often undermine this by giving false information.

"We really need to tackle this problem, but it is only with the co-operation of parents that we can prevent pupils missing out on vital chunks of their education."