Our exclusive story about a crackdown by Medway schools on parents taking their children on holiday during term time provoked quite a reaction on our website - www.medwaymessenger.co.uk.

Figures released by Medway Council revealed a five-fold increase in the number of penalty notices issued to parents in the past three years because of children taking unauthorised leave.

Nineteen penalty notices were issued between 2006 and 2007 but 97 were issued from 2007 to 2008. The increase, Medway Council said, was largely head teachers taking a stricter approach on pupils missing lessons for family vacations.

Those issued with a penalty notice face a £100 fine, reduced to £50 if paid within 28 days.

The number of prosecutions and parenting orders has also risen due to persistent pupil absence. From 2006-2007, 156 parents were prosecuted and three parenting orders were issued. Those figures rose in 2007/2008 to 158 prosecutions and five parenting orders.

Overall absence for schools in Medway for 2006/2007 stood at 5.9 per cent but in 2007/2008 that figure fell to 5.7 per cent.

Medway Messenger online reader Graham Burgess spoke for many in saying education chiefs were targetting the wrong people.

He said: “Stop holiday companies increasing their prices during school holidays. Whitsun half-term prices usually 50 per cent more than the surrounding weeks) and we’ll be able to afford to take our kids away during school holidays.

The £50 fine is less than the greedy holiday firms mug us for so it’s not much of a deterrent.

Neal Boatman from Biddenden has two step children that go to different schools causing him a logistical nightmare when organising holidays.

He said: “One is on a five term year the other a six term year. During that time, they are off 2 weeks at Christmas, 4 days during Easter and 4 weeks in the summer. No Half terms are the same. So unless I want to pay inflated prices, at least once has to be taken out of school.

“I don’t think it should be done too often as it will affect their education, but once a year is not a problem in my eyes.

But S Karnovski from Medway said parents risked putting the future prospects of their children in jeapordy.

He said: “Many parents dont realise that for every 17 days absence per year this will knock one gcse grade off their predicted results in year 11. “Those who work in schools understand more that anybody the extra cost for taking holidays during school holidays. Maybe people should be talking to the holiday companies and not the schools about this.

Tina from Chatham said some parents had no choice when they took holidays. She said: “What about parents whose employers issue their leave dates - these parents don’t have a say in which holiday dates they have?

Is Medway council saying that children have to miss out on a holiday when we should encourage family quality time? I never took my children out of school because I didn’t have to, but it’s not always so clear cut for other people.”

One anonymous Chatham teacher, posting her message online at 2.40am agreed saying holidays should be the same price all year.What about the teachers?

“The parent expects us to help their child catch up any work missed.

“Are teachers not entitled to the good rates? We can’t take leave when we want. If I applied for leave during the school term I’d be laughed at and if granted I would get no pay. Why should some benefit?

“This is a late post because I have just finished preparing a great PPT [power point presentation]. I don’t get paid for after hour work. You would all be up in arms if you weren’t paid overtime.”