A MUM fined for taking her son out of school for a final holiday with his dying grandfather has backed a call to scrap the blanket ban on term-time breaks.

Sally Randall from Rishton agrees with town hall bosses that heads should be able to take a ‘common-sense approach’ on each case.

The Local Government Association says new rules obliging councils to prosecute parents who take children out of school for unauthorised absences fail to recognise the complexities of family life.

In September, heads’ ability to grant up to 10 days leave a year for family holidays in ‘special circumstances’ was changed to a new tighter definition of ‘exceptional circumstances’.

Ms Randall, 36, was refused permission by Norden High School to take 13-year-old James on a 10-day break to Majorca, the dying wish of her father-in-law Graham Crisp, after failing the new test.

She took him despite this refusal.

In May, Blackburn magistrates gave her a six-month conditional discharge after she pleaded guilty to failing to send a child to school.

She said: “I definitely support the LGA. We need some common sense or a new definition of exceptional circumstances.

“The current system encourages parents to lie which is not a good example for their children.”

The call is supported by Lancashire County Council leader Jenny Mein, local teachers’ union boss Simon Jones and Pendle Tory MP Andrew Stephenson.

Coun Mein said: “We need a common sense approach. The current blanket ban is a step too far.”

Mr Stephenson said: “I have sympathy with the LGA. We need common sense here.

“Councils need to use their flexibility to change the school calendar so holidays are at the same time across the country.”

Mr Jones, Blackburn with Darwen branch secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “Many teachers are parents and we entirely sympathise with the dilemma caused by price hikes for breaks during the school holidays.

“We have had problems locally and need a more flexible and common sense approach.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said heads had the option of allowing time off if necessary ‘in exceptional circumstances’.