A scheme to provide cheaper breaks for families in school holidays has been launched in Sunderland for the fourth year.

And, for the first time the project will include secondary schools as well as primaries.

Sunderland City Council's Attendance Team has joined forces with Hays Travel to offer families a 10 per cent discount off their holiday as an incentive not to take children out during term-time.

The holiday discount is intended to run alongside the education authority's tough line against parents who take their children on holiday in term-time without permission from school.

Sunderland was believed to be the first authority to launch such a scheme in 2004 and, to date, 457 families have taken up the offer and saved a total of £77,464.

Since the project started there has also been a 13.8 per cent reduction in the number of missed school days due to holidays.

Now, the scheme has been extended to include secondary schoolchildren, it is hoped even more families will take advantage of it.

Councillor Patricia Smith, Children's Services Portfolio Holder, said: "Sunderland is proud of its partnership with Hays Travel, which has always been keen to help raise school attendance in the city.

"Pupils missing from school due to holidays is very frustrating for teaching staff and also impacts on pupil learning and social interaction.

 "I am delighted that the scheme is now rolling out into secondary schools as well as primaries and nurseries."

Brian Egdell, a spokesman for Biddick School Sports College, said: "The discount scheme is welcomed by our school and will reinforce the message to parents that holidays in term-time are not an entitlement."

After the initial success of the Sunderland partnership, Hays extended the discount scheme into other areas of the North East and has pledged to keep it going until at least August 2009.

The discount schemes will be renewed for families in Sunderland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Durham, Darlington, Stockton and Hartlepool.

John Hays, managing director and founder of Hays Travel, said: "The success of the scheme speaks for itself. Less children in Sunderland are being taken out of school for holidays as a result of the discount on offer."

More than 60,000 leaflets promoting the discount with Hays Travel will be distributed to parents/carers, schools and children's centres across Wearside in the coming weeks.