THERE are certain things that people should be aware of when they bring a child into the world. One is that holidays are more expensive at peak times, ie, out of school terms.

You could argue that it’s not fair, but it’s the way it is. The travel industry is big business, and inevitably holiday costs are going to be higher in school holidays, when more people are travelling.

The issue is under the spotlight again, following last week’s Supreme Court ruling when a father lost a landmark legal battle after taking his daughter for a term-time holiday to Disney World. The ruling clarifies that any parent whose child misses school without permission could be fined, or face prosecution.

Under the ruling, parents should not take their child out of lessons without the headteacher’s approval, and it’s down to schools to set their own rules on “regular” attendance.

Some parents will no doubt continue to take their children away during term-time, opting to pay a fine in order to take advantage of cheaper holiday prices. But why should parents be allowed to take their children out of school whenever they feel like it? It sets off a ripple of disruption that must impact on the whole class; not only does it break the continuity of their own child’s education, other children in the class are bound to be affected too.

How does a teacher’s lesson-planning account for helping absent children to catch up once they’ve returned from a term-time holiday? If pupils were allowed to come and go on holiday all the time, the much-needed routine and discipline of a classroom would soon disintegrate.

I know a teacher who says even a day’s absence affects a child’s learning process, so breaking off from school for a week or fortnight must be very harmful. Yet figures published by the Department for Education last month showed that around a million schoolchildren missed lessons last year after taking family trips during term-time.

A child’s education should be the priority of parents, not two weeks of roller-coasters and selfies with Mickey Mouse.

* A YEAR or so ago I pulled up outside my home and heard what sounded like a rumble of thunder. Suddenly about half a dozen loose horses came cantering past my car, spilling onto the road. It was such an odd sight I was stunned, then I realised they were heading for the main road. A couple of neighbours had come out to see the horses, and one was phoning the police. Thankfully, there was no carnage on the road and the horses were eventually led back to the field they’d come from.

This week several horses ran loose during rush hour in Bradford. Witnesses spotted up to 15 of them heading along the busy Rooley Lane dual carriageway before being controlled by police at Low Moor.

It must have been as terrifying for the motorists as it was for the horses. At the time of writing, it’s not known whether the animals escaped or were let out, but they were clearly a risk to the public.

It’s all too common to see horses tethered by roadsides, in all weathers, or ridden recklessly on busy roads. My heart goes out to the poor creatures. I once drove past someone hitting a filthy, scrawny horse on a pavement; the wretched thing had tried to slip the rope the lad was holding it with. I didn’t approach him, as I was alone and he looked violent, but I called the RSPCA and I hope they took action.

Sadly, horses are often cheap and end up with people who lack the compassion and knowledge to care for them properly - leading to animal cruelty and public danger.

* ACCORDING to a survey, 'the average Brit' hasn’t visited a bank branch in almost two years - and over half those polled have never written a cheque.

Are bank branches becoming obsolete? It appears so, with 85 per cent of those surveyed by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk preferring to 'phone their bank or make contact via social media.

It's rather sad that the days are numbered for these splendid old buildings. Many of Bradford's banks were built in the city's Victorian hey-day and reflect the period's grand architecture. The city centre Nat West branch, due to close in October, has a beautiful painted ceiling, and the Santander's ornate plasterwork is as stunning as a cathedral. What cruel irony if they end up as mobile 'phone shops...

* NEXT month's TV Baftas ceremony includes a 'must-see moment' category - showing that, despite shifting viewing habits, watercooler telly still packs a punch.

Must-see moments on the shortlist include James Corden's Carpool Karaoke with Michelle Obama, Planet Earth II's snakes vs iguana chase and Strictly's Ed Balls' Gangnam Style (pictured).

A more recent jaw-dropper was the closing scene of last Sunday's Line of Duty. As tired old Broadchurch plods on to its tedious conclusion, BBC1's far superior cop drama shows how must-see TV should be done.

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