To think the school holidays should just be August ?

[yellowbeard]

It's too long. I think a break in routine does kids good, but it's too much all at once. I think in Italy August is considered Holiday month ( not sure about the school holiday length ) but I know a lot of businesses close down for August there. Aibu ?

Having worked in an infant school i think the summer holidays should be 5 weeks long then the autumn term should be 5 weeks at school 1 week off, 5 weeks at school 1 week off then 5 weeks at school until Christmas.

Seeing a lot of reception children in particular, but the other years as well, struggle with the long half term between October and Christmas it would be better to break it up a bit more

We've ended up with just shy of 7 weeks this summer due to two inset days and then return dates being staggered.

Think should get two weeks at May and October half terms and then four weeks summer instead.

Mine finished end of June and goes back 1st Sept, I don't want it to come round.
We aren't doing anything much, but it's lovely.

Ours get 7 weeks and I think it’s about right to be honest. They go back at the end of next week and aren’t bored yet.

Agree, the autumn term is too long. But I wish they had more of July off - often better weather.

People go.on about Scottish holidays being in June etc but are they vastly different to English holidays? my cousin lives in Scotland her kids went back yesterday mine go back in two weeks so it's only two weeks later?Or do Scotland have longer ?

I think they are too short. I would love mine to be off in July as well.

and goes back 1st Sept

Unlikely.

Scotland get the same length summer holidays but they start/finish two weeks either side of the English ones.

No! I think they should be longer. So much more to life than school.

I'm sure we got 7 weeks when I was at school late 70,s to 1990 did they shorten the summer holiday at some point?

Lol to you for comparing summer holidays in the UK and Italy!

My DS's primary does 5 weeks during summer, 2 weeks at Christmas, Easter and May/June half term and then 1 week for Feb and Oct half term.

I find it works better as I only have to cover childcare for 5 weeks in summer and it's easier to cover (annual leave) the extra week at Easter or May/June half term than it is in August.

It's pretty unrealistic. It's already a nightmare trying to cram any summer leave into 6 weeks, can you imagine how bad it would be if everyone wanted the same 4 weeks.

I'm a teacher

I would far rather have a slightly shorter summer break and more time off at other times of the year. An extra week at Christmas and in May would be brilliant. I do spend time in the summer preparing for the year but the lack of routine is really bad for my mental health by about week 4.

They should be longer.
Children need time to be children. They need time to be at home, play with siblings, play outside, spend time with family, have a holiday, visit museums, escape rules and even just do nothing! Their brains need a rest.

They're too long. 3 weeks would do us.

But teachers deserve a break so it can't happen.

We broke up 26/7 and go back 2/9 and it doesn’t feel like long enough

Hell no! We’ve only had 6 weeks and it’s not long enough! I would prefer 8 weeks to let the kids have a lovely long break

I think the 6 weeks are fine .(Did we used to get longer hols in 60s/70s ?thought so but cant remember ).This has been debated before but with the weather in this country, 2 weeks at /Half term could be rather difficult to navigate !.Often we enjoyed our 6 week break as children but seem to forget about it and think its too long for todays kids!

It's over two months in Portugal!
I think it is too long, young children can't retain learning over such a long period and it is really difficult for the majority of families that have no stay at home parent.
It's a legacy from a time when the agricultural calendar dominated most people's lives and society was very different. it should be changed.
I also wish someone would commercially develop the idea of leasing school premises during the holidays and running holiday clubs for school age children, it makes no sense for all that capital to be unused for 24 weeks of the year, and loads of parents would sign their children up for a week or so of art/soccer/drama/music/gaming workshops and other activities at their local school during the summer. Like a non-residential summer camp.

No, but if it had to be just one month then surely July? August weather isn’t that great - July is usually too hot to be comfortable in school.

I'm overseas and we get 8 weeks minimum!

Six weeks seems really short to me - I always had 8-9 weeks of summer holidays (private school) which was amazing.

I think the school holidays are about right. University ones are ridiculously long though. 21st June to 23rd September for DS1.