The cost of family holidays are being slashed by up to £400 to cut the number of children being taken out of Oxfordshire schools during term time -- but parents say the offer has come too late.

Oxfordshire County Council is taking part in a pilot scheme which offers discounts to families wanting to take trips during the school summer holidays.

Travel firms are offering up to £400 off brochure prices as well as free child places and free insurance for 2005 summer breaks.

Headteachers welcomed the scheme, but parents said it should have been launched at the start of the year when most families booked holidays.

The offers run this month only and bookings must be made before March 28.

Roger Fell, headteacher at Abingon's St Nicolas Primary School, said: "It's an example of the Government listening to the profession. I welcome it because it recognises the importance of giving parents a fair deal."

Ian and Tracey Lawson, who live off Botley Road, Oxford, are taking their twin sons Max and Ryan out of West Oxford Community Primary School, in Ferry Hinksey Road, for the last week of the summer term.

Mr Lawson, who mistakenly booked a Butlins holiday which runs during term time, said: "If we had known about it, perhaps it could have helped us. I'm not sure this will make that much of a difference because the prices are so high."

Amanda Whiting, whose six-year-old son Thomas Mitchell attends the same primary school, said: "If it means only getting £100 or so off, I don't think that would make much difference anyway. If it was £400 then that might. It's a shame it wasn't announced at the start of the year."

Tour operators involved in the discount scheme include: Thomas Cook, Kuoni, Virgin, Airtours, Thomson, Sky Tours and First Choice.

Tony Crabbe, the county council's executive member for schools, said: "It's very disruptive to a pupils' education to be taken out of school during term-time. We hope the scheme will help discourage this from happening."

Clive Hallett, headteacher at Wheatley primary school, said: "I would like to see an expansion of this, so smaller companies wake up and realise the benefits."

Rod Walker, headteacher at the Henry Box School in Witney, said: "We don't have a major problem, because obviously parents recognise that most years have important exams at the end of each year."