In the middle of the school year, many families begin eyeing up potential getaways - not just for sun or sightseeing, but for much-needed relief. Yet, more than ever, parents face a stark choice: pay hundreds more for holidays outside term time, or risk fines and judgement for taking children out of school.

As parents, we’ve all experienced moments when our children say something that catches us off guard. It might be a funny phrase, a wild...