SELF-contained accommodation in England including campsites and holiday lets will be allowed to receive guests from April 12, says the PM.

That's great news for Brits keen for some respite in 2021, after in-class school lessons resumed on March 8.

What are the school holiday dates for 2021?

School term and holiday dates are usually set more than 18 months in advance of the academic year.

But dates vary between areas.

You can find out when your school breaks up by putting your postcode in the government's website.

Summer term: Monday, April 19 – Friday, May 28.

Summer half term: Monday, May 31 – Friday, June 4.

Summer term continues: Monday, June 7 – Friday, July 23.

Summer holiday: Monday, July 26 – Tuesday, August 31.

Autumn term: Wednesday, September 1 – Friday, October 22.

Autumn half term: Monday, October 25 – Friday, October 29.

Autumn term continues: Monday, November 1 – Friday, December 17.

Christmas holiday: Monday, December 20 – Monday, January 3, 2022.

Is it illegal to take your children on holiday during term time?

Parents are only allowed to let their children miss school if they are sick or have been given permission.

According to the government website you can get permission for your child to take time off school by making an application to the head teacher in advance or if there are exceptional circumstances.

It's up to the head teacher to decide if leave can be granted and for how long.

It's been revealed that almost 20,000 people were taken to court in 2015 after their children missed school without permission – an increase of more than a fifth.

Why are holidays so much more expensive during the school holidays?

Brits are currently banned from going on holidays abroad, because of the third lockdown.

May 17 had been pinned as a possible return date for international travel.

However, the soonest we'll know about holidays abroad is on April 12, when a government taskforce report is due.

This report will set out how and when international travel can resume.

If all the latest Covid data supports the further lifting of restrictions, the earliest possible date for holidaying abroad is May 17.

On April 5, Boris Johnson confirmed that shops, hairdressers and pub beer gardens will reopen from April 12 in England.

Self-contained accommodation including campsites and holiday lets will be permitted to receive guests, and bars and restaurants will be allowed to serve customers outdoors, but groups will be limited to two households or by the rule of six.

However, the PM's initial revelations about lifting UK travel restrictions sparked a mad rush in March from Brits fed up with lockdown, keen to flee their homes for summer breaks here and abroad.

Some even booked hols here in the UK, and overseas – to cover any eventuality.

Jet2, the UK's second-largest tour operator, saw demand rocket by 1,000 per cent. This was boosted further by low flight prices and plummeting costs at resorts.

Leading staycation providers Hoseasons and Cottages.com sold more than 10,000 in the hours after Mr Johnson's announcement, with a booking made every second.

Meanwhile, Tui, the UK's largest tour operator, also reported a huge increase in bookings to foreign sunshine resorts.

PRICE HIKE

Hotels, airlines and tour operators know that more people will want to jet off during school holidays, so many hike up their prices.

Research shows that some holidays are nine times more expensive when schools are off when compared to term time.

There have been continued calls for the government to intervene and force tour operators to lower their prices during the holidays so fewer children are taken out of school during term time.

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