PARENTS in East Lancashire have hit back at leaked plans to axe authorised absences during school term times.

They said headteachers should always be able to grant time off for ‘good reasons’ such as family emergencies.

It comes after it was revealed that Education Secretary Michael Gove wants to crack down on parents who take children out of school to go on holiday.

Under the plans headteachers will lose the ability to sanction up to two weeks a year of authorised absence during term time, in a new drive to improve attendance rates, according to reports.

In Blackburn with Darwen the number of authorised absences was 5.37 per cent from Spring 2010 to Autumn 2011.

In Lancashire, authorised absence rates were 4.54 per cent during the same period.

Jennifer Simpson, 35, who works in Blackburn, said: “Children should be allowed to have authorised absences from school.

“It is expensive to take children away on holiday during the holidays. Holiday companies shouldn’t put the prices up during school holidays. Schools should have the choice.”

Mum-of-two Joanna Zajac, 24, from Blackburn, said: “If there is a good reason like a family emergency, head teachers should give the be allowed ”

Mum-of-two Emma-Jayne Meachin, 29, from Colne, said: “If there is a good reason headteachers should be allowed to give time off.

“Headteachers should always have the choice to authorise absences, they know the children best.”

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders representing secondary school heads, said: “The discretionary 10 days has become a bit of a cultural expectation with parents viewing it as a right in some cases. It is not.

“Children only have one chance to get their education right and for schools to do their best for pupils, it is essential that they have good attendance. Parents taking children out to go on holiday just to get a good deal is disruptive and makes life very difficult for teachers.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “This is a leak and we are not commenting on a leak.”