UK summer holidays start far too late

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

We're already into summer, the weather is lovely and it's weeks until the school holidays start.

July is consistently the warmest month in the UK, yet the kids (and teachers) spend it on school and parents commuting and at work. www.statista.com/statistics/322658/monthly-average-daily-temperatures-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/. The rest of Europe is on holiday already.

Aibu to think they should start earlier?

Agree. Such a shame that some of the nicest weather is wasted at school.
We've still got 4 and a half weeks before the summer break!

Yes. Mid July they're ready to break up. They should go back mid September and give them a proper break too. They'd be much better for the proper break.

If they started earlier, they'd be back at school in August which seems odd. I like the whole idea of going back to school in the Autumn. I'm certainly not for longer school holidays either!

Feels not long since we've had 2 weeks at Easter, 2 weeks May/June half term. I'm happy DS is in school until the end of the month.

He has 5 rather than 6 weeks off as well, feels much more manageable for us both working FT.

I'm in N Ireland. My kids are already off school.
We generally get all of July and August off. Then about three days half term around Halloween and the same some time in February. We don't get a half term in the summer term although we usually get the first May Day bank holiday.

Schools here all set their own holidays, it's not set by Education Authority. Therefore if you have, as is not unusual, two or three children at two or three different schools, you'll also have three sets of holidays. Summer holidays and Christmas holidays will probably broadly match up, but half terms don't tend to.

DH and I both work, and I still think that 5 or 6 weeks off is ridiculously too short for the kids. Why can't they have a decent break? They are only kids once.

I am in Scotland and our local schools break up later this week. Thank goodness the kids are exhausted but the weather is rubbish were I live.

Scottish schools have broken up.

Not all of them, ours starts this Friday.

Independent schools break up this week where I am in England.

Perfect they break up 19th July go back in September lovely.

And they start again at the beginning of September.

I went to private school and we finished around 8th July so this week.

No. Because then us folks from ireland, NI and Scotland wouldnt get those lovely 2/3 holiday weeks that's arnt manic busy in england

This

I finished on Friday so I'm happy

Regarding Germany, there is two areas out of 16 (!) that start their summer holidays at the end of July, the majority are already having their holiday or start it this week. France start their summer holidays after this week as well. Most European countries are looking at school starting up again in August.

@DonkeyHohtay don't forget another 2 days in November have now been added!!
Although that may be certain schiols

School year Jan-Dec with 2 weeks off March and October, one week at Christmas and all of June and July off. Exams in November and wind down for Christmas/ end of year.

what do we have to do to get at least 2 full months off for the kids in this country! (when we can't afford private school...)

YANBU I think schools should break up on 1st July.

The last 3 weeks of term (first 3 weeks of July) are often far nicer weather than August....but not sure i would want a longer holiday. Its hard enough finding and funding childcare for 6 weeks!

Its hard enough finding and funding childcare for 6 weeks!

people say that, but frankly, it's hard finding and funding childcare all year round, I don't get that argument at all. Mine finish at 3pm, neither DH or I are home anywhere so early anyway.

*@NiccilovesSundays
I think holidays should only be slightly longer but a bit more spread out, so children and teachers aren't absolutely exhausted by the end of 7 week half terms.
So I'd have only 4 weeks for summer, but in July instead of August.
Then split Autumn term into 3 blocks (6 weeks on, 1 week off mid-Sept, 5 weeks on, 1 week off end Oct, 6 weeks on, 3 weeks off for Christmas breaking up mid-Dec).
Spring term 6 weeks on, 1 week off mid-Feb, 6 weeks on, 2 weeks off for Easter.
Summer term 5 weeks on, 1 week off for Spring Bank, 5 weeks on - then break up for summer!
Add in a long weekend in Aug for bank hol and another for May Day.

Its hard enough finding and funding childcare for 6 weeks!

Agree - but it could always finish earlier too.

But surely their school provides after care until someone can collect? That's where I struggle as holiday clubs generally finish at 3:30

In France. Primary schools finish on Friday but my secondary D.C.'s have been off since mid June. It is catastrophically hot here- maybe the way forward is to finish mid- June and return earlier. There is nothing constructive happening in these conditions.

Lifecraft the link posted in the first post (and many others) show that the warmest averages are in July not August.