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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be gutted that term finishes on the 23rd December?

136 replies

ddoherty · 21/10/2015 19:22

The Nativity Play is on Tuesday 22nd. I was just going to keep DD off the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but she'd be gutted to miss the play.

I really think the 23rd of December is ridiculous. That's 9 and a half weeks after half term, with no holidays or inservice days.

This is my PFB so a shock to the system! She was so tired at half term it took the whole weekend before I had my girl back. Finishing on the 23rd seems a sure-fire way to have a grumpy, overtired 5 year old on Christmas Day!

OP posts:
laffymeal · 21/10/2015 23:12

Let it go...let it go lol Paul, no doubt you'll be back for the "last word" it seems to be awfully important to you Grin

Italiangreyhound · 21/10/2015 23:28

Ridiculous date to finish. If she is extra tired could she have the Friday or Monday off but not miss the play?

Judydreamsofhorses · 21/10/2015 23:29

The late finish feels really "bitty" to me. I know we have a full fortnight off, but it's one whole week and two half weeks. We're on October holidays this week and back on Monday, so it's quite a long term between now and Christmas. My OH finishes on the 18th - not a teacher, just annual leave - and it will be v odd for him to be the one knocking about on holiday and me at work!

PaulAnkaTheDog · 21/10/2015 23:30

The 23rd just feels too close to Christmas for me.

unlucky83 · 21/10/2015 23:36

In Scotland breaking up on the 18th and going back on the 4th - no inservices or anything - and is really odd as it is a bank holiday (and afaik one of the few that is the same in all counties in Scotland...)
I think breaking up on the 18th is early (also prefer later as you can get organised without overexcited DCs under the feet)
Our Winter term (Aug to Dec) is a week shorter than usual (we get two weeks half term)
Spring term starts early but we also break up earlier for Easter (on a Thurs) -which is making (for us) the summer term a longer than usual one....
However next year we break up on the 23rd and go back on the 9th or something...then late easter etc ...which is more what we are used to ...

Katarzyna79 · 21/10/2015 23:42

I prefer the late finish, I only just moved from Scotland, I'm just counting down the days to moving back. But I'm glad for the early break up here it will mean I get a longer Christmas break in Scotland the kids are begging to go too :)

AndNowItsSeven · 21/10/2015 23:45

I would much prefer the 23rd, ours are the 18th - 5th. Time off after Christmas is much better imho. The dc are less hyper and can enjoy playing with their gifts and having family time.

Iggi999 · 21/10/2015 23:48

How on earth do you know in October that she'll be too tired for school in December? This is primary one, not reception, she is supposed to be in school - having fun hopefully, and enjoying the end of term stuff! What excuse could you give - if you say she's ill you won't be able to be out and about looking at Christmas lights at all.

raspberryrippleicecream · 21/10/2015 23:54

I break up on the 17th and DC on the 18th at lunchtime, which is great. They started a day later in September

TheGruffaloFish · 22/10/2015 07:18

Iggi I know mine will be tired, because I know him. He is often tired by the end of the week. I would not hesitate in calling him in ill if I feel he is too tired to cope with school. The irony is, I suspect a lot of parents will take their children off early at the end of term and he will benefit from being in a reduced class! We get 5 half days a year which we can take at a days notice, unless it links to a holiday in which case we need the head's permission and two weeks notice. Ours went back from half term on the 12th October and I think it's a long stretch for them to cope with. Of course you can go out and look at the lights, even if you're ill it's beneficial to get some fresh air for an hour or so.

GoblinLittleOwl · 22/10/2015 07:20

This very late finish comes round about every five years and depends on the start of the school term, the days of the week, and sometimes on pressure from the local Chamber of Commerce, who want the children kept out of the shops!
Sometimes schools break up a week before Christmas starts, so the children return immediately after New Year, exhausted by late nights and all the travelling across the country to visit family.
There is no easy answer.

Groovee · 22/10/2015 07:24

I always prefer a later finish as its not too much hyperness as to when is Santa coming. We don't go back til the 7th!

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 22/10/2015 08:04

Much prefer a later finish - this year we've got a whole week of them hanging around before the big day - would much prefer more time after Christmas tbh.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 22/10/2015 08:17

I'm so the opposite of most of you, I think it's lovely having them home for a week before Christmas so we can do fun stuff together and by the 2nd Jan we're all keen to get back to school and work, several more days off then is a real drag.

AuntieStella · 22/10/2015 08:35
Bunbaker · 22/10/2015 08:43

"I was just going to keep DD off the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday"

Why? The last few days in primary school just before Christmas is when all the fun stuff happens.

When DD was at primary school they used to have a panto trip, a party and a visit from Santa during the last few days of term.

Pengweng · 22/10/2015 09:20

Ours finish on the 18th and go back on the 5th so yours seems quite late and not really enough time off.

Pengweng · 22/10/2015 09:22

I wouldn't keep them off school though as the last few days are fun and it will give you some more time to get some shopping done.

Hippymama · 22/10/2015 10:42

Ours finish on the 17th!

Nohopeformethen · 22/10/2015 11:58

If they're not sick, they should be at school.

LizzieMacQueen · 22/10/2015 12:56

Just checked - our school finishes at 1pm on Tuesday 22 Dec, back on Thursday 7 January.

millefeuille1 · 23/10/2015 09:18

I think this is appalling planning by whoever sorted out the terms this year. This is primary - nine and a half weeks?? Some of the children must surely be barely 5, and when you factor in all the Christmas activities (which are lovely but quite tiring for little ones) at the end of term, plus no real "down time" for them before Christmas itself, I foresee a lot of exhausted, grumpy and possibly poorly children!

Noofly · 23/10/2015 09:47

I hate the years where the school runs until the 23rd. I love the run up to Christmas and having DC help decorate the house and make fudge and truffles and decorate the Christmas cake and bake/decorate cookies for the tree and string popcorn and cranberries for the tree and go into town to see the lights and decorations........

I like the run up to Christmas even more than Christmas itself and when the schools finish so late there's no time and everything is rushed.

This year both DC finish on the 18th and I'm so looking forward to it.

OOAOML · 23/10/2015 10:10

We finish on the 22nd and back on the 7th. October holiday was one full week plus Monday/Tuesday. Summer holidays were long this year - I remember talking to other parents about how we'd prefer a few days less in the summer and more at Christmas, generally the children are pretty tired by then, and there's a tendency to bugs and colds at that time of year.

haggisaggis · 23/10/2015 10:55

We're the 22nd (had to check - mine are High School now and I never know the dates). I think they only finish at 3 p.m. - no lunchtime finishes for us anymore as per council directive. I know I'll also be petitioned by at least the eldest dc to let him stay off as everyone else does (true too - hardly anyone seems to attend the last day and staff don't seem to expect the kids to either!). But they'll both be going in. Back 7th Jan which is a day later than I expected.

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