A viral video on social media shows how a family in Coventry have lashed out at their children’s school by celebrating their three term holidays, claiming they will ‘save thousands’ despite being fined each time.
The video shows the parents, Brogan, 29, and Shane Cole, 30, happily dancing on TikTok, where it has garnered more than 90,000 likes and comments.
The Coventry couple were looking forward to a holiday in Zante, Greece, with their two children Archie Cole, 10, and Ellie Cole, seven.
To save money, mum-of-two Brogan said they opted to book an 11-day break for May 18 – which took place during the school term – and were fined £240 instead.
The 29-year-old content creator claimed she visited Archie and Ellie’s primary school before the trip, and was told the family had until July 6 to pay the money or the fine would double to an eye-watering £480.
A video on social media shows the parents, Brogan, 29, and Shane Cole, 30, dancing with joy on TikTok as they celebrate the three-term holiday by pranking their children at school and claiming they will ‘save thousands’ despite being fined each time.
The Coventry couple were looking forward to a holiday in Zante, Greece, with their two children Archie Cole, 10, and seven-year-old Ellie Cole, to save money mum-of-two Brogan said they opted to book the 11-day break on May 18 – which happened to be in the school term. – and was fined £240 in return
However, Brogan claims the family have no regrets about their trip as they managed to save £2,000 by traveling during the academic term.
The influential parents even shared a clip on their TikTok earlier this month on June 14 that showed the pair dancing with joy as they boasted that they ‘saved 10 times by going to term time’.
Despite this, Brogan claims he finds the fine ‘disappointing’ and feels like they are ‘punishing’ him for wanting to give his children some time to relax.
The mum admits it is the third time the family of four have gone over term and the third time they have been fined, as holiday companies raise the cost of summer travel.
Brogan said: ‘We saved £2,000 because we booked over the holiday period.
‘I told the school before we left, and they fined me.
‘The fine is £60 per person, and we have until July 6 to pay it, otherwise it will double to £120pp. And there are four of us so it’s a lot of money.
‘This is my third time taking it [the fine] Just because it’s so much cheaper and cool going term time.
‘Holiday companies make it so expensive to travel in the summer, that’s why we do it.
‘We were really disappointed when we got it [the penalty]Because we think they are our own children but still we have to pay fine for them.
‘They are our own children that we want to take with us and make memories with.
‘We want them to have a good time from their little worries, [away from] Whatever it concerns them. To move away from normality.
‘But we feel like we’re being punished for wanting to do it.’
While Brogan claims the family has had an ‘amazing’ time, the mum believes many other parents will struggle to pay part and parcel fines for taking their children out of school.
Brogan said: ‘We had an amazing time – as we always do.
‘It’s so hard to save to take your family, it’s so expensive. So I know it will be difficult for the family to bear these extra expenses during the summer holidays.
‘But it will also be difficult for the family to pay the fine when they return home.
‘People need to talk about this to let other parents and carers know they are not alone in this struggle.’
The Cole family shared their story on TikTok, where it garnered more than 90,000 likes and comments.
Many parents supported Brogan, and even claimed to be saving money on holidays by booking holidays themselves during term time.
One said: ‘We’re taking our boys back to school next year, saving over £700 on holiday [booking] It’s for the week before half term.’
A second agreed: ‘It’s fine to go on strike whenever they like. We are going on vacation on 9th October. First holiday abroad and I can’t wait.’
A third commented: ‘We’re also hoping for a but saved £3k on our holiday in Florida by going over May half term and the week after.’
Others, meanwhile, disagree and feel that parents are making the wrong choice by taking their children out of school without permission.
One said: ‘Imagine being a teacher and having no choice [but to go away during the holiday period].’
A second commented: ‘Okay, so while the teacher spends all her time getting everyone on the same page, please don’t whine that your child missed half the curriculum.’
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