AIBU to say that summer hols are a driver of inequality

[Teaandcrisps]

Myself and OH have had mixed personal fortune over the last 10 years - so from personal experience know the difference.

Summer holidays with no money is shit - especially when the weather is crap. If you can afford it however, it's great fun.

It's not just the obvious things - summer hols, trips, activities, camps, increase in food costs; it's also if you have the kind of job that can give you time off.

Given that food bank have launched the holiday hunger campaign, AIBU to say that summer holidays is an unequal construct and the 6-weeks off needs to go.

I think more activity/play schemes for 6-12 year olds are needed.

But funding has been cut for everything and every group, so that's not going to happen.

Two weeks at October is a good idea. There's still a few holiday destinations that are warm enough to go to. So people who want them, don't miss out.

What we need is a return to 'every child matters' so young people are planned for.

My DD has SN, went to a SEN school. Disabled children don't benefit from the long gap, either.

I just want to say NO again to extra holiday in May. For teachers with exam classes (most in sec school) that would turn into a non-holiday, and teachers need the breaks as much as the children do. Same goes for extra holiday in Easter as that's too close to exams too, imo.

My area has taken a week off the summer (so we're 3 days shy of 6 weeks off) and put it in October, and I'm okish with that, but there is talk of taking another week off and putting it in Feb. I think that's a shit idea because it's exam prep time and the weather is awful in Feb. Two weeks off in bloody February - no thanks! There will be less opportunities for doing free stuff outdoors and more sitting in on consoles, undoubtedly. I'm really hoping they don't go ahead with that. I could just about go for 3 weeks over Christmas, but ultimately I think the long summer break is lovely for kids and teachers and more should be put in place in deprived areas for those who need it.

I think the answer is free/subsidised summer play schemes, not shorter summer holidays.

But that would mean the government funding something for children, which which obviously won't happen anytime soon.

I agree with the point upthread that children from low income families lose skills when out f school for so many weeks compared to more affluent families. That's because wealth enables families to throw money at the problem

So, to solve this inequality, people want the children in low income families to have shorter holidays, and more schooling, but the children from wealthy families will continue to send their kids to private/public schools and have three months off in the summer.

That won’t solve inequality.

As a teacher I do think the summer holidays are too long really. I'd be in favour of a longer Christmas break and more time during October half term. It seems mad to me that the Autumn/Winter term is so manic with hardly any room to rest - alongside all the seasonal colds and bugs everyone comes down with - then in the summer is 6 weeks of nothing! By the time I get to Christmas I honestly feel the hardest part of the academic year is over. I appreciate that others prefer the longer summers though - many of my colleagues included.

There's a well-documented summer learning slide which disproportionately affects disadvantaged children. There are children who don't get a proper meal in the holidays because they aren't receiving their free school meal.

I don't think scrapping the summer holiday is the answer but undoubtedly we need some provision for those children.

Two weeks off for older students slap bang in the middle of exams in May is a bad idea. My DS just had the one week during GCSE's this year, and found it very hard to maintain the momentum of revision etc. Some of his friends were pushed to keep going, some were left home alone in bed all day, some were taken away from it all on exotic holidays. So more disparity.
One week was enough, and even then he found it hard to pick up the pace on return.

Given that it’s back to school tomorrow I’d say that the holidays are too short!

If anyone is struggling with childcare, there’s a severe shortage of secondary teachers so maybe you could consider retraining and get the holidays off with your kids.

7 weeks they had off here and if I didn’t have a family member willing to have them for the most part I’d have been £40 a day for childcare (less than a lot of people though I’m sure).

I agree that social media has given people the idea that they need to be doing something every day though which I strongly believe you shouldn’t.

I think the answer is free/subsidised summer play schemes, not shorter summer holidays.But that would mean the government funding something for children, which which obviously won't happen anytime soon.

Yes, I agree on both counts.

Well, we both work and our DCs had four weeks in holiday clubs. But those are expensive too.
Then we had a very nice 2 week holiday in the UK (first seaside then home for a few days) and the DCs both learned a lot and enjoyed themselves but both the accommodation and all the outings were ££££.
I'm not sure having lots of shorter school holidays would make any difference to this. Those with family abroad might find it hard to see them for just a two week break. Even if this is a once-every-5-years thing.

I think the summer should be longer the same as the rest of the world but I think subsidised/ free activities and camps should be laid on for the less well off. You see these abroad.

The holidays should be for the benefit of children. Aug weather is shite. July and Aug would be better. Xmas is already too long.

I know of some primary schools which do two weeks off in May. Many parents love it because they can get a cheap Wednesday-Wednesday holiday. It's not an option at secondary, however - the big exams (English Language, Maths) always take place in the first week after the May half term. Adding another week would extend exam season, place extra pressure on marking, and potentially push results day back.

YANBU and the holidays do, imho, need to be a couple of weeks shorter. My DS has been desperate to go back to school for 2 weeks now. He's bored, the weather has turned and DH and I have run out of spare cash and annual leave. Luckily he goes back on Wednesday but 6 weeks is far too long and the time could be used better elsewhere in the year. I paid £200 for holiday camps this year. That's going to double at least when DS2 goes to school.

Disclaimer: Just my opinion/experience. I know nothing about running education establishments.

It was the food aspect that used to do for me (mine are grown up now). Single mum of five, they had free school meals for a lot of the time - suddenly I had to find extra money for lunches, plus that 'muuuuum, I'm hunnnnnngggrrryyy!' that you get when they are bored. We live rurally, so in some ways good because they could play out, but no activities at all laid on, and too expensive to drive to the city where activities were usually pricey.

They ate a LOT of cheap bread and chocolate biscuits, I do remember that...

I know of some primary schools which do two weeks off in May. Many parents love it because they can get a cheap Wednesday-Wednesday holiday. It's not an option at secondary, however

And this would really annoy me as a parent with children in both primary and secondary as we wouldn’t be able to go anywhere.

Oh and ours are a week longer (7.5 weeks) next year!

I agree with theduchesstill.
I work in education.
Staff have been pressured to work throughout both the Easter and May breaks, without any extra pay.
Shuffling the holidays around solves nothing.
Extending the May break disadvantages the poorer kids.
Opening in her hours in not an option.
Schools cannot afford this. Support staff are not paid for the school holidays. It's bad enough having to take unpaid time off without any flexibility, imagine being told that time off will not be in winter when the chances are it's pissing it down.
The long summer holidays are what keep thousands of staff in the job, and I'm not joking.
When I was a child my mum had to work full time, I entertained myself. No screens or tv on demand. We went out and entertained ourselves of went to friends houses and played there.
Also school is not a babysitting service it's there for the good of the children not the adults.
I know it's tough and that why lots of women , and it is women, take very low paid jobs within schools due to childcare issues.

Of course, @fedup21. I imagine that's why very few places do it.

Do you have other breaks during the year?
Our school have 8 weeks over summer then 3x 2 week breaks during the year. I'm so fortunate to work from home and choose my hours as I would have to have them in holiday care otherwise.

I think the summer should be longer the same as the rest of the world but I think subsidised/ free activities and camps should be laid on for the less well off. You see these abroad.

I wonder if the governments in the countries where you’ve seen free summer activities have systematically reduced the funding to local authorities so that they are now unable to provide free activities unless they take the money from somewhere else, such as adult social care?

Will now be in winter.

The last 2 years I have worked out of the home (previously worked from home for a couple of hours which could be moved around if needed and then before that worked evenings) so the kids have had to go to holiday club etc and now the 2 eldest are secondary age they have to just stay at home. I’ve found it really hard not to feel guilty as previously we would spend the summer doing things, going to the park/woods, meeting up with friends, doing all sorts and now I fell that the holidays are a bit of a letdown for them and especially the 2 older ones are just rotting at home (we live in a village so can’t really easily meet up with friends as no transport)

I think in Europe especially the south lots of business also shut up for August so the whole family is encouraged to go on holiday/ be together which is a good idea.

The British tourism industry is struggling as it is. They rely on the 6 weeks to make enough to see them through the winter. DCs really need the long break. I used to call it growing time because they got so tall during the holidays. Their brains take a break and their bodies catch up.

Sorry I don't agree with the Christmas is too long idea! We break up a few days before Christmas and are usually back a few days after the new year festivities. Believe me I am usually say in front of a class of very tired 6 year olds who have spent a busy holiday opening presents, visiting every member of family they have or skiing! Very few have had time to relax and the spring term is long and dark!