To think that the school year should be reformed so that there are only 6 weeks of holidays instead of 13!

[bollywoodfan]

...Yes I am finding the holidays difficult! They are too long and there are far too many imo. I don't see why children & teachers need so many holidays! They are a nightmare for parents to arrange childcare for, which also costs a lot of money. Most households don't have a sahp and the govt is discouraging this anyway. So it makes sense for there to be the same amount of school holidays as there is annual leave i.e 6 weeks
OK, before the teachers start moaning - the workload for teachers could be more spreadout as there would be a longer period of time in which to fit the curriculum. You could also have weeks where you did other things, like sports or music week, activities etc, so that it is not all book learning all the time.

Benefits: more time to learn, less workload for teachers as slower pace, less childcare issues for parents, less bored children in long holidays
Disadvantages: may need to increase tax as it would cost a bit more to keep school buildings open & staff would have to be paid more. Less time for kids to relax I suppose..although as I said, there could be activity weeks or days which coukd break up the routine

So my plan would be:
2 weeks for summer holidays
1 week christmas
1 week easter
1 week in Nov
1 week in Feb
Who's with me?

YABU.

I'm afraid more contact time equals more work, not less. Who organises the activities?

I don't get paid for my holidays, I'm not giving them up because you don't want to look after your own children. I'm not childcare, I'm there to educate.

Noooooo I love my dc being off school, i always have and juts hate it when they go back to school

I want longer holidays in the summer - it would be much better if they finished in June

Not me

Dd is exhausted and crabby at the end of every term and half term

The ultimate reason why this is not ok is because they are CHILDREN you are talking about.

I know 'childhood' is a reasonably modern construct etc..etc... But it is one of the constructs that benefits society. A lot.

No but then I am a just qualified TA and for the first time ever I am off with my Dcs and its bloody lovely.

Yup. I'll do it. That would up my salary from £36,500 to approx ££43,000 (top of main pay scale). Times that by the number of teachers - up your taxation to fund it... Still fancy it?

This topic has been done to death. You choose to have kids and its up to you either to care for them for pay someone else to look after them. End of.

I disagree. The holidays are a relief to me and both my children need a break from getting up every morning and working hard.

gosh am rofl at the thought that extra weeks of work for teachers would spread the workload....

I agree with sassy, the payrise would be good

I agree that teachers don't need 13 weeks but children do. The difference in my class between the beginning of term and the end is huge. They are young and they need a rest.

No.. I love the school hols too. No school runs, no lunchboxes, no stressy mornings..

But poppy you do get paid for some holidays..

I reckon you have it the wrong way round - we should all have 13 weeks holiday

Can I just ask why the school holidays seem to come as a shock to some parents? Surely they went to school themselves?

Teachers are paid for working 39 weeks a year (their salary is equally spread over the 12 months). If they are to be paid a 52 week year with paid annual leave, that's a huge cost to the taxpayer, no?

Ah, 6 weeks of holidays and only two of them at a time of year when it might be warm? (Unless Easter is unseasonably hot). So everyone would be wanting to book the same two weeks away in the summer?

Yes, that's sensible!

Also, my ds really needs his holidays to unwind. He is rarely bored, even in the summer holidays.

Oh and my teenagers are more than ready for the frequent breaks we have now! Never mind primary children.

YABU.

But free quality childcare for children aged 4-16 available for every child during the holidays would be genius.

no I love time with my dc I don't agree with this at all. The summer holidays in my area is only 5 weeks this year not 6 like it usually is. not long enough on my opinion also my boys always get grumpy towards the end of term and I know they are ready for a break

I prefer the holidays how they are, I want my children to have a quality education where teacher have enough 'holiday' to be able to plan and make education for my children the best they can.

I work full time, yes childcare is a nightmare in the holidays but YABU. The kids need the break from school and I love not having to battle the school run

YABU

No thanks! I see students at the end of term needing a break. As do teachers.

As a pp said, i am not there to babysit your children.

I do think schools could be used as child care settings in school hoilday ( of course at a cost) but both children and teachers need a break

Ssssh. Michael Gove may be listening.

I like my children being off school. And they need the time off.

I think the answer to the perennial childcare conundrum would be for all the adults to work less,frankly - more people doing fewer hours - but I don't think it's very likely.