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The Local Government Association is urging the government to relax the rules that fine parents who take their children out of school in term time.

Defending the policy on the Today programme, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said the rules were not being over-zealously policed.

He told presenter John Humphrys that enforcing attendance was an effective way of improving behaviour and academic achievement in schools.

Children cannot get a good education if they are not at school, he said.