English school holidays issued with a penalty notice whenever they take their children on holiday during term time without getting authorisation from the school. Penalty notices can be issued by local councils, headteachers (including deputy and assistant heads authorised by them) and the police. Generally, schools will agree to no more than 10 school days of absence in any school year. The Swallows and Amazons series of children’s novels by Arthur Ransome are all set in the school holidays, generally the long (August) summer holidays although some are set in Easter or winter. For example, in "Pigeon Post", he wrote: "Term time was
Swallows and Amazons series in the Brotherton Library at the University of Leeds. They describe the story of "Peter Duck" being made up by the Walkers and Blacketts on a wherry in the Norfolk Broads during the winter following the events described in "Swallows and Amazons". This composition was later referenced in "Swallowdale", but not in "Peter Duck" itself. The final complete book, "Great Northern?" is set in the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. This book is sometimes included with "Peter Duck" and "Missee Lee" as metafictional because the story would involve the children being away from school during the nesting