to think that schools choosing their own holidays

[Justforlaughs]

will cause more problems that it solves. New idea from our illustrious leaders, is to give state schools the leeway to choose their own school holidays. Now I can see that this may mean that holidays get cheaper, but frankly probably not, I think they will all go up. I can see that there can be advantages to having a longer a May holiday over a 6 week August one. But what happens when people have children in more than school. I have children in 3 different schools (or will have in September) how can I cover childcare for them all, how will we be able to co-ordinate family holidays etc.? Am I making problems where there are none, or are any of you worried about childcare etc.?

It's not a new idea.

It's a mixture of rehashed Labour policy (they gave it to academies) and powers that VA schools have always had.

If you look at the DfE website, they say that 70% of secondaries and 30% primaries already have these powers.

It doesn't make me dance w glee tbh. And I can see it leading to more parents taking their children out of school for unauthorised holidays, just so the whole family can go together.

Or perhaps schools will co-ordinate locally in which case it will make little difference.

I do worry it is just increased weeks of schooling by stealth.

It should be set within each LEA, or at least secondary school and feeder primary schools because otherwise parents could be left with little choice which regards taking children out during term time.

Schools are already co-ordinating locally, so I hope that doesn't change.

I don't think there's an obvious reason why they would change.

This idea has been around for over a decade, and years ago some schools tried the idea of four or five terms in a year I vaguely remember (could be wrong)
The problem came when you had children in different schools or in different LEAs.
But many parents want shorter holidays and teachers to work more days, there is usually too much to learn now to fit into the current school day and get Good/Outstanding at OFSTED, children have the notorious summer dip to overcome and the current academic year is 19th century harvest-based really.
It will end up a fragmented jumble for years, then settle down as usually happens. Then there may be some stability.

I dont see the problem to be honest. I suspect there will still be lots of overlap when all the children are home at once and surely it will be nice to have weeks when you're just rushing to one or two schools?
I'm hoping the stupid 6 week break will be reduced to 4 and extra weeks put elsewhere.

The wrap-around care mandate will probably be reinforced as well, along with increased fines for unauthorised absence. I wonder if they'd let the schools keep the cash raised?

I think it's a fantastic idea. Keep the holidays in each County the same but all Counties to have as different dates as possible. Surely that would mean that there wasn't a huge hike in prices for holidays?

We went to Disneyland Paris in March. Had we gone a fortnight later during half-term, the price increased by £1500!

we have slightly different holidays in rutland, our summer is shorter, more like 5 weeks, and we have 2 weeks in october. we love the october one, as we have a week off when everyone else is still at school, did the water park at alton towers last year and it was great as it was so quiet, no queueing.

Have older DC so wont affect mine for the most part if it comes in but I think it will be a real hash. Yes parents with children in more than 1 school may never get a family holiday.

With holidays - yep they will all go up a little then the core weeks (as I imagine there will still be some core where 99% if not all schools are closed at some point in August) will be even more expensive than they are now.

I think getting rid of the 6 week summer break is very very sad for children. 6 weeks seemed like forever as kid and it was a time of absolute freedom and enjoyment. A time where there is no pressure or strict routine. The freedom of childhood - most of us adults miss as we spend out lives rushiong around like headless chickens).

I am so glad my kids wont have missed out on that. I do think child care must be shit to arrange for those that need it for 6 solid weeks but surely - there will still be the same amount of holiday (or will they make terms longer) - so the problem still exists just at different times of the year. I would rather (even with our shit summers) entertain my DC in July and August than November and February. I just think if my kids are not sat in a class room then I would prefer to entertain them doing more summer time activities than the type of stuff we do in February half term etc.

And what will happen to holiday clubs - they will be dramatically reduced - surely?? The choice open to parents/children will be limited. If only a handful of local schools decide to have 2 weeks off in June/August etc then big holiday day camps etc wont be on offer - just probably the local school offering some kind of day care. At least atm everyone knows schools are closed roughly from mid/end July to end of Aug (in most of England) so alot of holiday clubs, local, national run are on offer - albeit you need to book early.

I just seen lots of disadvantages more than advantages.

Problem with those idyllic long summers of our youth SS is that for many children now they are times of fraught snappy parents and pass-the-parcel childcare. Or parents moaning on at the children and vice versa. For weeks and weeks.
Just watch the threads in August here!
For most children they are not tranquil and timetableless but frenetic, then they come back to school and get tested to see what they've forgotten and educational mill starts all over again.

Yes I agree Eyes - and thats really sad and probably more of a point that should be addressed than school holidays.

It really screams out something very sad about us as a society that we are all so stressed out and busy that spending 6 consecutive weeks with out kids or having to be responsible for their care for 6 consecutive weeks is such an ordeal/upheaval to our lifestyles.

Its also rather sad that so many kids return to school in September having had no (no matter how limited) back up educational input over the holidays. Why is it acceptable for so many of us to be living in a society where finding time for our kids is so hard???

I just think something has gone very very wrong. The time when our DC are children is so short really.

the 6 weeks are not idyllic for those with children with SN. There are no playschemes, no childcare and very few days out believe me. You ever tried telling your boss you need 6 weeks off. Even unpaid? Then put up with work collegues making sneery comments when you come back about 'jammy bugger' when you've had 6 weeks trapped inside with your child changing shitty nappies.
Of course, this isnt a holiday issue, its a lack of childcare issue but it makes us long for a shorter summer break.

I think it will cause all kinds of problems. Holiday prices won't be cheaper they will just be more expensive for longer. After school clubs which serve more than one school will end up with problems as they will need to be open for different schools at different times and may not be able to afford this (Thus reducing childcare options especially around here where childminders are like goldust)
And that is without the issues of different children in different schools mentioned by other posters.

Would be a nightmare for me.. 5 kids.... 1 in uni,1in college, at upper school,1 at middle school and 1 at lower school!!