Perth and Kinross is to tell schools to treat pupil holidays during term time as unauthorised absences. It is to be made clear to parents not to expect work to be set for pupils taking time off or to help them catch up later. The only exceptions will be for extended visits overseas by Asian families and prolonged absence by traveller children. Absenteeism was up in seven of 10 secondary schools between 1997 and 2002 at a time when the national average was static.