Highlighting Political Leadership
The LGA’s range of political leadership development programmes helps to support and develop councillors ensuring our local politicians are confident and capable; well-equipped and well supported to make a difference, deliver and be trusted. Interested? More details can be found here: http://www.local.gov.uk/councillor-development
Let’s find a Liberal Solution to Term-Time Holidays
In response to the High Court ruling in favour of a father who took his daughter on an unauthorised term-time holiday, Cllr Liz Green, LGA Lib Dem Children and Young People’s Spokesperson, said:
“Children’s education is rightly treated with the upmost seriousness, but it is clear that the current system does not always favour families, especially those that are struggling to meet the demands of modern life or have unconventional work commitments.
“Just last autumn, the Liberal Democrats voted for headteachers to be given discretion to grant up to ten days absence a year .
“There has to be a sensible solution whereby every family has the option to spend time together when they choose to, rather than tying families to set holiday periods. This makes no allowances for what a family would class as a special occasion or takes into account a parent’s work life.
“Blanket bans do not work and as today’s High Court ruling shows, it’s a system that is not always enforceable. We want to work with the Government and headteachers to find a sensible, Liberal solution whereby every family has the option to spend time together.”