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AIBU?

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Original poster

Can School Extend Easter?

267 replies

EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 18:44

My kid’s school had published Easter holidays as:
Mon 7 April - Tuesday 22nd April

They have written today to extend it to:
Friday 4 April - Thursday 24 April
An additional 3 working/school days

I can’t list all the reasons this is a fucking nightmare for me. Can they just announce this without any consultation and just 3 weeks notice? They haven’t taken any subsequent days off to compensate. It’s an additional 3 days.

YABU - of course they can
YANBU - no they shouldn’t be able to do this

OP posts:
Original poster
EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 19:10

The thing is @Needmorelego the school is very resistant to feedback and if they are within their rights to do this, I’d rather not. I don’t want to make a name for myself.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 12/03/2025 19:08

@EasterEvenLonger you need to talk to other parents as I expect others will have the same problem.
If you then talk to the school en mass then the school might be able to help come up with a solution.
Does the school have WhatsApp or Facebook groups? Put a message on there about this if you don't know many other parents to talk too.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 12/03/2025 19:07

EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 18:59

I wish I could do this. I’d even offer to go in over Easter and move boxes myself if I thought they would give us a day back 😆

I just don’t understand why they can’t do it classroom by classroom and have the kids in school still. I can’t wfh and you’ve hit the nail on the head, I probably wouldn’t give a shit if I had someone at home to look after my kids.

Show quote history

Classroom by classroom would have taken 102 days where l used to work. And that’s just one day for each classroom. 3 days ( one to pack, one to move and one to unpack) would have taken near in a year.

And who is covering the classes of those packing? And what are the kids supposed to do when they need specialist equipment like DT or science? Wait a year?

Ritzybitzy · 12/03/2025 19:07

EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 18:51

Sorry I should have put the reason in the OP, I was trying to keep it succinct. It’s definitely not teacher training.

The reason would be considered exceptional circumstances. What are you expecting them to do?

ScienceFanGirl · 12/03/2025 19:06

EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 18:49

It’s a state school. It’s to do a move of stuff from one building to another. It’s not being labelled as “Inset” days by them. The inset days are already in the calendar.

Well they can hardly help it then, can they?

Sirzy · 12/03/2025 19:05

Sometimes it’s unavoidable. The school I work in had to put back the start of term because some building work (very much needed building work) over ran and we needed that extra couple of days to get the school safe for pupils to return.

Original poster
EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 19:05

Thanks helpful @RabbitsEatPancakes. Maybe you could signpost me to the rules around shutting schools and what constitutes reasonable notice, as this was clearly the point of the thread.

OP posts:
JorgyPorgy · 12/03/2025 19:04

Livinggently · 12/03/2025 19:03

What do you mean you wish you could do this? You can - all you do is talk to the school. As a lone parent I find that most settings completely don’t think about the impacts their actions have on lone parent families, so you have to spell it out to them and talk to them about what they suggest you do. They might even offer a solution like keeping one classroom running for families in similar situations.

That’s a good suggestion

JorgyPorgy · 12/03/2025 19:04

EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 19:01

@greencrab unfortunately I’ve already used a few days this year for an unwell relative and I’ll be skating on thin ice to request anymore.

I think legally / hr wise you are allowed to take time off to care for dependents. I am not employment law specialist though

Livinggently · 12/03/2025 19:03

What do you mean you wish you could do this? You can - all you do is talk to the school. As a lone parent I find that most settings completely don’t think about the impacts their actions have on lone parent families, so you have to spell it out to them and talk to them about what they suggest you do. They might even offer a solution like keeping one classroom running for families in similar situations.

Original poster
EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 19:01

@greencrab unfortunately I’ve already used a few days this year for an unwell relative and I’ll be skating on thin ice to request anymore.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 12/03/2025 19:01

@ThatDoesntWorkForMe as a SAHM myself I never had a problem offering to look after my daughters classmates if their parents needed help.
Not all "school mums" hate each other 😂

JorgyPorgy · 12/03/2025 19:01

yeah I guess one day to pack, one day for the movers and one day to unpack. Super annoying for parents though

RabbitsEatPancakes · 12/03/2025 19:01

It's not paid for childcare. They don't owe you the days.

Original poster
EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 18:59

Livinggently · 12/03/2025 18:56

Totally understand the frustration - booking childcare is difficult and not everyone has a support network. Regardless of whether there any rules about this, I’d ask school what they suggest you do given the lack of childcare available at this short notice.

I wish I could do this. I’d even offer to go in over Easter and move boxes myself if I thought they would give us a day back 😆

I just don’t understand why they can’t do it classroom by classroom and have the kids in school still. I can’t wfh and you’ve hit the nail on the head, I probably wouldn’t give a shit if I had someone at home to look after my kids.

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 12/03/2025 18:59

I was going to say there's a good chance it's to do with building works or similar which they've now been told will take longer/start later/have extra stuff needing doing.

Local school had a 3 week half term at no notice (Friday of half term) once. Parents linked up and shared childcare using parental leave mostly.

SometimesCalmPerson · 12/03/2025 18:58

It’s a one off that can’t be helped and I’m sure you’d prefer your children to be taught in decent buildings even if it is a huge inconvenience.

If staff have to facilitate the move, what else can they do? They won’t be able to afford the overtime if they asked staff to do it in the holidays.

greencrab · 12/03/2025 18:57

We had an extra two weeks over Easter for a building move and demolition, it was before COVID so there was some extra homework set on an online platform but it wasn't taken very seriously.

Can you take some unpaid parental leave, you are just within the required notice period (https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave/notice-period)

Unpaid parental leave

Employer and employee guide to unpaid parental leave - eligibility, how much leave can be taken and notice periods, postponing leave

https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave

Livinggently · 12/03/2025 18:56

Totally understand the frustration - booking childcare is difficult and not everyone has a support network. Regardless of whether there any rules about this, I’d ask school what they suggest you do given the lack of childcare available at this short notice.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 12/03/2025 18:55

EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 18:49

It’s a state school. It’s to do a move of stuff from one building to another. It’s not being labelled as “Inset” days by them. The inset days are already in the calendar.

Yes they can. I had this when l was teaching. It’s authorised by LEA.

RhaenysRocks · 12/03/2025 18:55

Is it because they've had some RAAC related issues or similar and need to move things about at short notice? I get that it's inconvenient and difficult but sometimes this kind of stuff does just happen and schools are run by normal humans. They can't just make stuff magically happen. It's not really in the job spec to be hefting piles and piles and of stuff around but they'll be in doing it.

BogRollBOGOF · 12/03/2025 18:55

JorgyPorgy · 12/03/2025 18:53

Sounds like they are using the move as an excuse for some extra days off! But I’m probably being cynical!

It's not extra days off for the staff. They still have their standard holiday and they can't do it safely with pupils on site.

Original poster
EasterEvenLonger · 12/03/2025 18:55

I guess I’m after the ‘rules’ if that is the correct word. I would have thought they would have to give us 3 days back. Appreciate I know nothing about how these things work in practice, hence the thread.

OP posts:
ThatDoesntWorkForMe · 12/03/2025 18:54

Needmorelego · 12/03/2025 18:49

That is odd as term dates are usually published over a year in advance.
Could you ask any of the other school parents if they could take care of your children for those days?

Could you ask any of the other school parents if they could take care of your children for those days?

I expect the SAHM’s are already cringing in anticipation of more of these messages.

JorgyPorgy · 12/03/2025 18:53

Sounds like they are using the move as an excuse for some extra days off! But I’m probably being cynical!