To think the summer holidays should only be four weeks long.

[MyBrexitUnicornDied]

I’ll probably get flamed for this but I really think 6 weeks is too long for kids to be off school.

The kids (and teachers) still need to keep the same number of weeks off as holiday but summer really drags. My kids end up bored and miss their friends. I think there’s an issue with some kids losing skills over such a long break too.

It makes more sense to me to have

2 weeks half term in October
2 weeks Christmas
1 week half term February
2 weeks for Easter
2 weeks half term May / June
4 weeks summer break.

Anyone else of a similar opinion? Or am I going to get flamed?

I'd prefer that too. Some places do 2 weeks May half term and 5 weeks for summer but I like your suggestion even better.

Yes I completely agree. My DD was bored and ready to get back to her friends at school after 4 weeks. Inset days always make the break up to 6.5 weeks and covering 6.5 weeks is a nightmare. 2 week half terms would also make it easier to take leave then as not everyone would want the same half term week off. K8ds wouldnt forget as much either. Much better all round imo but it will never happen.

A good idea although I would say 3 weeks at Christmas and 1 at October half term.

I wouldn't want 2 weeks at October half term because of the weather, but would be on board with cutting the summer break to 5 weeks and extending summer half term. I do think one long break is good - both my DDs are shattered by the end of summer term.

I'm not going to flame, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Our schools have 9 weeks off in summer, and my kids love it. They don't get bored and they're not itching to get back to school, they just enjoy a few weeks of being completely carefree, which is what being a child should involve at some point. I'd hate it if they were only six weeks long.

Summer holidays would become insanely expensive though as the demand would be squashed into 4 rather than 6 weeks. But i agree, it would be better to have 2 weeks in October and May

I'd rather longer summer holidays and cut down on the winter ones, too many half term weeks off plus Christmas and Easter. Bung it all on summer and have 8-10 weeks off.

I agree. The summer holidays are waaay too long! The kids are bored, and the mums are at the end of their tether!

Agree op.

I would put the extra week at Christmas rather than Oct half term though as Christmas is always such a rush and I'd rather enjoy the festivities more.

The 4 weeks should be July as well as June and July are our summer is.

All we do by having it in August is boost other countries tourism industries as many feel like a UK holiday in August is not worth the probable liklihood of the weather being shite. I would risk it in July but not August.

Nothing will ever change though frustrating as it is.

I wish they were longer, I live having the kids home. Spending real time with them. It won't be long before they'll be all grown up and not want to associate with me anymore!

I agree. 4 weeks mid July to mid August, extra week before Christmas, extra week October or May (schools discretion). Much better.

The difficulty would be that all local authorities and individual academies would need to agree. Otherwise you could get adjacent schools with different holiday dates.

Otherwise you could get adjacent schools with different holiday dates

All the schools where I live have different holiday dates. They're broadly similar, but they are set by each school.

I wish they were also only 4 weeks, I love having them off school but my youngest has autism and we have had a rough summer with him, he needs routine, he loves school. He is non verbal and gets very confused in the holidays, you can't explain to him the holidays as he doesn't understand I hating to admit this but this summer has been so horrible, he's had so many meltdowns and his sleep has gone to pot.

I'd rather have an extra week with them at Christmas.

There's just no need for the long holiday! 2-3 weeks is enough.

Sorry, posted too soon.

What I meant to ask was, why would they need to be the same?

No. I like the long holidays. Time to unwind and time for family's to get away too. Shortening them would also make summer holidays in holiday time even more ruinously expensive.
If your kids are bored and want to see their friends that's not the fault of the school. I have never felt mine to "lose skills" either. Reading and days out and more time to be out and exercising helps physical skills too.

No thanks.
I think kids should get 8-10 weeks like in other countries ( N.ire, Ireland, USA etc) and shorter ones at other times. I’d rather they were off when the weather was better.
They have the rest of their lives to be stuck in a routine - give them the time to play. And get bored. Does wonderful things for creativity and imagination being bored.

Summer holidays would become insanely expensive though as the demand would be squashed into 4 rather than 6 weeks.

Also the demand for parents taking time off work will be squeezed into 4 weeks which may cause problems for some employers/employees.

I think 6 weeks or so in the summer is the right length.

There is a need for a long holiday, kids and teachers need to switch off and 2-3 weeks isn’t enough.

I don’t like the whole of August being off. Too late. Summer is on its way out before the children break up!

For financial reasons I’d prefer the holidays to be more spread out
Next summer I will have to pay over £1000 in childcare costs and that’s with having 2 weeks off work too
Perils of being a lone parent with no family nearby
I think my kids would prefer a few slightly longer breaks throughout the year than just a long block

I wouldn’t like it.

We’ve had an amazing 8 weeks off here and it’s been fabulous. I’d hate to lose that time when she can recharge and relax.

Because you could have a child in the junior school with one set of holiday dates, a child in secondary with another, potentially a child in the infant school with a different set and-if you are a teacher-a whole different set for yourself!

I'd hate it. They need a proper break, to have real carefree childhood time. The 6 weeks have flown past and my DD hasn't been bored once and is wishing she could have another few weeks, as am I! I miss having her around all the time and I'm dreading term starting again.