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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want schools to give up summer holidays

963 replies

littleblackdress04 · 12/04/2020 09:32

Just read in papers that it’s been proposed that kids go back to school in July/ August

I think this is a rubbish idea - if it’s going to be that long then just let them have a ‘normal’ summer and go back in September.

Kids have been cooped up because of this- I’d want to take mine to the hills, go camping & let them have some freedom. Then start school in September. This isn’t a holiday for them - it’s a horrible stressful period of being cooped up & not being able to live their normal lives.

While school gives a structure and is important, so are proper periods of holiday.

I’m really against the idea but aibu? Be interested to hear other thoughts. I’ve not been particularly worried about the kids education- they will catch up in time and it will be fine

OP posts:

Appuskidu · 12/04/2020 10:51

My kids have been working from home 9-4 every day doing work set by school-working longer hours than normal! Kids will be desperate for the summer holidays when they come.

If things are ‘fine’ by August, and people need childcare, the childminders, holiday clubs and sports clubs will be desperate to earn money and will be open to provide it.

hepburnmed · 12/04/2020 10:51

Think we might have to be flexible with school teens going forward. There’s a reasonable chance school will be off limits again by the winter flu season, and that we would need to stagger schooldays...

I don’t love the idea of cancelling summer holiday but perhaps a shorter one this year would be prudent to help make up for the missed education?

upstar · 12/04/2020 10:51

Most teachers are working this Easter either in schools for childcare, preparation for online classes next term, daily calls to vulnerable children, organising school meal delivery and so on. School staff who can't work at home have been repurposed to other areas of the COVID effort- coordinating and organising volunteer work, food delivery to the community, manning helplines etc. Most education staff I know haven't had a proper Easter break. If we were made to go back over the summer I'm not sure how schools would manage to be staffed as som many teachers and assistants are on supply or temporary contracts.
Education is continuing through the pandemic and all the people's who are fed up looking after their own children , if you want schools to be sustainable next session please don't force staff to work themselves into exhaustion over the summer.

Saoirse7 · 12/04/2020 10:52

Peoplepleaser

You think teachers should have their holidays pulled forward to now and then for teachers to work July through to Christmas? Catch a grip.

The distain for teachers from a small percentage on this site is disgraceful.

mochojoes · 12/04/2020 10:53

@MamaBearOnLockdown but plenty of them have had their annual leave cancelled. Most people who work don't have 6 wks off over the Summer.

halcyondays · 12/04/2020 10:54

Teachers are still setting work, children are doing school work at home. So no to going to school in the summer holidays.

FamilyOfAliens · 12/04/2020 10:54

Thanks, OP. I see that you linked to the article further down the thread - Normally people put the link in the opening post so people know what they’re responding to.

megletthesecond · 12/04/2020 10:55

My 11yr old DD isn't doing any school work. She's violent and trashing the house, I'm already at breaking point. The sooner she's back at school the better. Even a week of catch up would help.
If there was flexibility and it was safe she would be in school in the blink of an eye. We haven't got any holidays to look forward to anyway.

Mawbags · 12/04/2020 10:57

What about the exhausted teachers?
Do they not count ever?

blue25 · 12/04/2020 10:57

I’m sure teachers will just love this idea. Why should they give up their summer holidays?

upstar · 12/04/2020 10:59

Megle, does your child receive additional support? Schools that are open will still have a place for her. Teachers are expected to manage all sorts of behaviour on a daily basis often from more than one child in a class of 30 .....

LookTheOtherWayPlease · 12/04/2020 10:59

If lockdown is eased and everyone is running out to theme parks and holiday camps and having their delayed birthday parties, I hope it's because we have a vaccine. Otherwise the second wave of the virus will be along very very quickly.

HainaultViaNewburyPark · 12/04/2020 10:59

The government has already made changes to the law with regard to allowing holiday entitlement for 2020 to be postponed and rolled forward to be taken in 2021 and 2022. Do you really think this won’t apply to teachers?

Bunnyfuller · 12/04/2020 10:59

So far they’ve only missed one full week of school though? Just subtract those weeks of the summer hols. Hopefully there will be a reduction in social distancing measures before letting kids go back so you can still get away if you really need to.

disconnecteddrifter · 12/04/2020 11:00

I'm working now like I have worked with inky one day break in the last 3 weeks marking planning and setting work. My kids are ignored as I cant spare the time for them. I want to have time to connect with my children and the summer is the only time I get more than a few days off.

Appuskidu · 12/04/2020 11:00

Do you really think this won’t apply to teachers?

How can teachers’ holidays be rolled over when term times are fixed?

countdowntonap · 12/04/2020 11:02

She's violent and trashing the house,
Megglethesecond, have you spoken to the school about this? They may be able to help. We have a child coming in a couple of days a week whose mum is really struggling with their outbursts.

lyralalala · 12/04/2020 11:04

The government has already made changes to the law with regard to allowing holiday entitlement for 2020 to be postponed and rolled forward to be taken in 2021 and 2022. Do you really think this won’t apply to teachers?

how exactly do you roll forward teacher holidays?

Many have already given up their Easter holidays providing childcare for key workers

Rosspoldarkssaddle · 12/04/2020 11:05

My ds has not had a break for Easter. The coursework keeps piling in with short deadlines so he spends hours at his computer doing work five days a week. All exams are cancelled and they would have been on works experience and resits in the run up to July. This means his teachers have been setting and marking work, giving feedback etc. To kids all through. Give them a break and start again in September. A family member is a key worker in a school taking key worker's children. They have not had a break either.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/04/2020 11:05

Haven't read the whole thread, so maybe this point has already been made, but when my children were at school we needed time in the long holidays to go up to Scotland to see my parents. There will be lots of families who haven't seen each other for months by the time this is over and I'd say family reunions are a priority, along with time off for NHS and other frontline workers. Then we can think about getting back to normal school routines.

MamaBearLockdown · 12/04/2020 11:07

You do realise that in order to travel, fly, visit attractions, restaurants etc that others will have to work & not be on holiday?

the same as every other year, all these people never planned to be on holiday in the high season anyway. Many of them desperately need the work to survive the rest of the year.

milkysmum · 12/04/2020 11:08

I think reduced summer holiday periods need to happen in general and this is a good time to look at doing that. Nearly 7 weeks off school over summer is completely unnecessary, my children are both in primary and by week 4 are desperate to go back. As a single working parent I also find sorting this amount child care crippling ( I know I know my problem but still....)
I'm a key worker so my two are in school still now of sorts but they are desperate for some normality back and I for one would welcome a shorter summer break at least.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 12/04/2020 11:08

This is my concern as well. I was looking forward to Butlins but it would feel inappropriate now, even if it was reopened.

Grasspigeons · 12/04/2020 11:09

How can teachers take leave during term time in 2021 and 22? Do you mean the fixed holidays will be longer in those years. So the academic year sept 2020 - 21 and sept 21-22 will both be 36 instead of 39.

We have to do what works best educationally in these circumstances and seperate it from much needed childcare. Its highlighted how much people rely on education as childcare to the point some have fogotten the reason for school and how we need to nationally plan childcare more.

MamaBearLockdown · 12/04/2020 11:11

I think reduced summer holiday periods need to happen in general and this is a good time to look at doing that.

OH NO!

If nothing else, the lockdown should have taught us how important real holidays, real family time is absolutely essential.

The children NEED time off, so even spread differently you still need the same amount of childcare.

7 weeks is nowhere near enough for a summer holiday, let kids be kids. Let family have time together, people travel, meet their relative and let the kids have a life out of school.

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