Will there come a time when school holidays aren't so often or so long?

[QueenOfIce]

Do we really need 6 weeks for summer, 2 weeks in October, 2 weeks in Dec etc etc?

Is it really so knackering to be at school 5 days a week for 6 weeks that a 2 week break is needed?

With the rising cost of childcare I wonder if we'll ever see a reduction in school holidays?

So basically when kids spend more time in school?

My kids have been back since the start of the week.
They will get one day off in September as a national holiday, and one day off in November so school can check all the facilities with no kids about. They break up at Christmas. We did this last year too. It's hellish. By mid November, everyone has had enough. So Id say 10 week terms absolute max, and actually, the English system, however inconvenient it is to working parents, is actually about right for (primary) kids needs.
And having just done a 13 week summer holiday, I will never complain about a 6 week summer holiday, should I be so lucky to pursuade DH to move back to the UK!

Childcare is one of the things people should consider and plan for when choosing to have a kid. Surely it didn’t come as a shock?

School terms are set to suit children and learning. You can't add weeks and weeks on for the sake of providing fee childcare which is all it would be given you aren't saying you think they ought to learn more

It won't happen as schools can't afford to pay teachers for the extra work they would have to do. Budgets are stretched to their limits already!

I love the school hols where the kids can chill out at home and we don’t have to rush about. I’ve still been working but not fitting in school runs etc is lovely. And the children need the break and a chance to get bored and not be micromanaged by adults constantly.

Some half terms can be very long for my year 4s - at the end term they're tired and ready for a break. Although the government won't care about that. Teachers get paid for 39 weeks a year it'll never happen where we have longer terms, they can't afford it

Ds is well ready for the holidays by the time they come around!

Hope so. Im on my own with 3. I havent seen another adult, bar club drop offs etc, for a month. I am really, really struggling, like counting down the days. Not because i dont love the kids but fuck me i need some space. To be in the house on my own, to go out on my own and the fresh air hit my face and be able to breathe without looking for a 3 yo or listening to kids talk.
Three weeks was where my sanity ended by 4 i was drinking regularly. Nearly 6 and Im screaming inside.

Sod off Rachel. The reality of parenting is FAR different to imagining a cute baby

Umm I agree with rachel surely childcare is one of the obvious things you think about when planning children. I'd say most people do more than just 'imagine a cute baby'.

Where are you where you're getting 2 weeks off every 6 weeks? I love the holidays and so do my children. They need the downtime, what with school and clubs and homework etc they need time to switch off a bit.

I’m a teacher so childcare isn’t really an issue although I teach FE so tend to have a few days at work in late August and usually return slightly earlier than my DC’s school. Mat leave this year so none of that worry, thank god .

Anyway, I even say this as a teacher- six weeks is far too long. I don’t treat school as childcare so it isn’t even about that, I just find they struggle getting back into the swing of things after six weeks away from the routine. They are bored and arsey by the end of it and I’m always struggling to find new ways to entertain them. Four weeks would be adequate imo, I’ve always said it. They should just have August off.

Wasn't the point of a 6 week holiday so that the children could help in the fields with harvest etc? Isn't school also a place where children's imagination and their minds are stretched. It's not about childcare, though I'm sure for many parents the school holiday pose many issues.

I'm not against school holidays but 6 weeks is a very long time and I just wonder if at any point it'll be reduced. My dsd isn't knackered after a term at school she's just looking forward to Snapchatting all day without having her phone confiscated in class!

I doubt very much the summer holidays will ever be shortened.

Why did you bring up childcare costs as a reason the school holidays should be reduced if your op is nothing to do with childcare?

I can't see schools changing, in fact some schools are moving to shorter weeks because of funding shortfalls but I think there is room for options of more holiday clubs possibly based in schools. This would only work in schools without expensive PFI contracts for bought in services though at it would be very expensive in PFI burdened schools.

Jesus you're like a dog with a bone! You read my op and it's your perception it's about childcare, it doesn't make it true just because that's the way you read it!

I am really sad there is only a week left of the summer hols. Life has been so much calmer for me and my daughter during this time away from school. I know some places have made the summer hols shorter by having a two week October half term. I would hate that.

The harvest was more half-term rather than the summer holidays.

With the rising cost of childcare I wonder if we'll ever see a reduction in school holidays

I didn't 'perceive' this, I read it? You've not answered which is why I brought it up again.

How would my DC be resting if I dropped them off at a holiday club in the morning and picked them up late afternoon?!

DD managed it last year. She slept on the sofa.

I wish the summer break was only August. Mine are happier at school instead of holiday club.
I'm a weirdo who wants two weeks in Feb so we can hibernate while it's miserable outside.

If we must have six weeks holiday I'd prefer we had it in June and July rather than August. Weather in June and July is usually far better than the weather in August.

@formerbabe in Scotland we have ours from last week in June til mid August.