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 Ronald Fraser. In 1984, the BBC adapted the two Norfolk-set stories, "Coot Club" and "The Big Six", for television, titled "Swallows and Amazons Forever!" In 2010, a stage musical version of the first book in the series was created at Bristol Old Vic, adapted by Helen Edmundson with music by Neil Hannon, and directed by Tom Morris. The show was successful, and was taken on tour, including a stint in London's West End. A new film version of "Swallows and Amazons" by Harbour Pictures and BBC Films was released in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2016. Swallows and Amazons