IS it worth £100? The Government wants to crack down on parents who take their children out of school for family holidays.

They are considering fining parents £100 if they do so. There are many reasons to take children on holiday in term time - often to do with the quality of the school and the quality of the holiday. If you're off to Florida the weather is often more comfortable for children in May or June than it is in humid August. In this country there are only a few weeks outside school holidays that are ideally suitable for bucket and spade holidays - but once you're in Europe, you have a much broader time span to choose from.

It's also a lot to do with money.

Tour operators say it's not their fault. Supply and demand dictates that prices soar during school holiday time. But did you realise just how much? We checked some prices for a typical two adult, two child family.

THOMSON FLORIDA DISNEY ANIMAL KINGDOM

Room only apartment for two weeks

In May, two adults would pay £1,504 each, first child £129, second child £275.

Term time total: £3,412.

In late July and August, two adults would pay £1,694 each. First child £409, second child £489.

School holiday total: £4,286

Difference: £876

HAVEN HOLIDAYS FOUR STAR CARAVAN IN PRIMROSE VALLEY, FILEY

June: £444

August: £683

Difference: £239

AIRTOURS SUPER FAMILY FIRST LANZAROTE

Child prices apply to two 12-year-olds. Airtours offer a number of free child places. These are limited, so we have taken the normal child fares.

May: Two adults each pay £539. First child pays £179, second child £429.

Term time total: £1,686

August: Two adults each pay £789. First child pays £299, second child £569.

School holiday total: £2,446

Difference: £760

AIRTOURS IN PAPHOS, CYPRUS

Child prices for two 16-year-olds. Free child places if booked in advance. Again, we have taken the regular prices.

May: Two adults each pay £419. First child pays £119, second child £199 (same bed)

Term time total: £1,156

August: Two adults each pay £619. First child pays £219, second child £319.

School holiday total: £1,776

Difference: £620

PONTINS BLACKPOOL

Half board Club Chalet

Late June/early July: Two adults each pay £120. Children each pay £60.

Term time total: £360

Late July/August: Two adults each pay £155. Each child pays £77

School holiday total: £464

Difference: £104

MANOS VILLA IN TUSCANY

May: Two adults pay £674 each. First child pays £129, second child £169

Term time total: £1,646

July/August: Two adults each pay £899. First child pays £279, second child £319.

School holiday total: £2,396

Difference: £750

HAGGERSTON CASTLE

Two bed top range caravans

June: £389

August: £655

Difference: £266

NB These prices are just the basics from the brochures. Some include extras or have other discounts available. Others include extra fees and charges. What remains constant is the price difference between seasons.

CONCLUSION

In nearly all the holidays, parents of two children could pay the fines and still be better off. The exception was our cheapest holiday - Pontins at Blackpool - where the school holiday price was still a third above the term time price.

The only people the proposed fines will really affect will be, as always, those least able to afford them. Otherwise, money alone will be no deterrent - not unless fines come near to the colossal differences in holiday prices. If the Government wants us to stop us nicking off in term time, they're going to have to think of a better way of persuading us.

Making school so good that you wouldn't want to miss any would be a start. Staggering school hols might be another. Children at fee paying schools are again at an advantage as their holidays tend to start long before those of their state school contemporaries.

But in these days when so many families have both parents working flat out, surely the chance to get away and have time together as a family is, just once in a while at least, more important than cramming for SATS?

And anyway, if more families go in term time, that means there's more space on the beach for the teachers when they go.