Blaenau Gwent County Council has revised their policy regarding our children and term time holiday authorisation. From September 2013 all schools in the Blaenau Gwent area will be unable to grant authorisation to parents taking their children out of school for a holiday. Until the government make travel companies reduce the over inflated rates for school holiday dates, this could mean the difference between a holiday or no holiday for many children. Since being put into special measures the LEA have treated our children as statistic and exam results rather than the human beings they are. Holidays and travel are a vital part of their education, it teaches them about cultural diversity, it shows them historical and geographical features, It gives them a wider view of our world. Please sign this petition if you agree that we should have the right to take our children away for a set amount of time ONCE a year without the threat of financial penalisation or a visit from the Education Welfare Officer.