The TimeShare Times: Timeshare offers term time study

A holiday timeshare club which offers children supervised study during term time vacations has been dubbed irresponsible by a teaching union.

Club Las Calas in Lanzarote says families wanting to make use of lower term-time prices could ask teachers to set their children holiday assignments.

The not-for-profit club's staff would give pupils materials and assist them as they work in a safe environment.

The National Union of Teachers said the scheme was "abusive of education".

Surrogate school?

But the chairman of Club Las Calas owners committee, Adam Johnson, said the private members' holiday club was simply offering a practical solution to an ever-present problem.

It recognised the fact that many parents took holidays in term time because of the high prices charged by travel firms and airlines during school holidays.

He added that the prices could be as much as 100% higher.

Mr Johnson said: "What we feel is that since the government says children can have up to 10 days authorised absence - parents who wish to could offset that loss of term time by helping them undertake learning activities.

"We are not seeking to provide a surrogate school in Lanzarote, what we are saying is our parents need to go to the school and agree something that your children can usefully do whilst you are on holiday.

The holiday club said it was offering a practical solution

... I think it's an excelent idea to be flexbible and accomodate for timeshare families