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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

School holidays - 2 weeks in Feb and 1 week at Easter?

36 replies

pigeonorstatue · 31/01/2021 19:01

Genuine AIBU question from mum of 5-year-old.

Should schools give kids a longer break in February - 2 week half term - while the majority are home schooling and then cut short the Easter break to a week?

I’ve just looked at the calendar and if the kids do go back on March 8 it seems crazy to then have 2 weeks holiday on April 1st!

Our daughter’s class has been closed since Dec 4th and she is really missing social interaction with other small people, as well as structure and teaching from someone who knows what they are doing... I.e not me!

Would like to hear other people’s thoughts.

OP posts:

Imapotato · 31/01/2021 19:04

Wonderful two weeks off in lockdown with nothing to do! I’d rather have two weeks at Easter in the hope that we may actually be able to do something!! Even if it’s just a trip to the coast.

Original poster

pigeonorstatue · 31/01/2021 19:07

@imapotato yes, I know what you mean!

I think I’m just concerned about how much school she’s missed.

We’re trying to do what we can but it’s so far from the school experience! I was also thinking it’s not that long til the May half term when I am hoping the UK is more open and we could enjoy more of a break!

OP posts:

AlexaShutUp · 31/01/2021 19:08

What do you propose should happen with KW and vulnerable children during the 2 weeks in Feb? It's quite short notice for key workers to arrange alternative childcare now, and many will be unable to get time off work to care for their children.

If schools have to stay open for this cohort, I can't see many teachers being keen on giving up their Easter holiday as well.

RedskyBynight · 31/01/2021 19:08

A 2 week holiday in lockdown in February (always a hard holiday anyway) is going to be torture for most parents. At least home schooling provides a bit of a structure to the day. So, no, I think your idea is dreadful.

It might make some sense by the time you get to exam years, but schools often run revision sessions for these years during the Easter holidays anyway, so if they wanted to run extra sessions at that time for them, there is a precedent already.

Imapotato · 31/01/2021 19:11

I think the extra week will be neither here nor there in the long run. It’ll be more beneficial to their mental health to maybe look forward to a bit more normality, and possibly be able to meet up with their friends during their Easter break. I say this as the mother of dds in y11 and y8.

Puffalicious · 31/01/2021 19:11

Teacher here. I'm on my knees with the weight of remote learning- i want a decent holiday at Easter with the chance of some decent weather and restrictions being lifted slightly. I also have 3 DC to homeschool, 3, one of whom is in exam year, so I know we're all worried about what they've missed, but that doesn't mean I don't need a holiday at Easter!

Mudmudingloriousmud · 31/01/2021 19:12

No I wouldn't like this, sending them back gives a natural fire break at Easter.
My dd is doing on love work and moving forward.
Socially yes I can see why you're concerned but school wise, at 5 they need the basics, so concentrate on those.

AStudyinPink · 31/01/2021 19:13

If we start this, it will never end. Children have missed the best part of a year of school. Expect cancelled half-terms, shortened Easter/Summer/Christmas for the next ten years if we start this now.

LadyDique · 31/01/2021 19:13

I actually think the timing is pretty good.

Let them go back to school beginning of March and have a few weeks - then if it causes a spike in the number of cases there's a two week break in April to let it die down again. And by mid April you'd hope we'll be far further with the vaccines, weather warning up should mean a natural decrease in viruses etc.

The only difference I'd make would be going back to school a couple of weeks sooner, towards end of Feb.

starrynight19 · 31/01/2021 19:14

We only have a weeks closure at Easter anyway and a longer May holiday.

Nowmum43 · 31/01/2021 19:14

Could you imagine how amazing it would be if at Easter the sun was out and we could maybe meet 6 people out doors, or our children's friends in the park.
I am so ready for February half term but I am ever readier for the easter holidays!

ChristmasinJune · 31/01/2021 19:15

Another no, sorry. I do see where you're coming from but I actually prefer lockdown days where we do school work. At least it keeps us busy.

Two weeks in lockdown with no school work, cold weather and nothing open/nothing to do sounds just awful!!

NailsNeedDoing · 31/01/2021 19:15

The majority of children will still be doing a full school term between the end of February half term and the start of the Easter holiday, they’ll just be doing it from home so it doesn’t make sense to say that they’ll be going back on 8th March.

If we’re allowed some normality by Easter I’d rather have that time off school to do other things and see other people, then make the most of the Summer term ps when they are supposed to happen.

veeeeh · 31/01/2021 19:17

Five days a week most are just playing at learning. At five years old you can help her. She will be fine! Most of it is free childcare, sorry now.

Homeschooling or Unschooling is a big thing in America, but maybe that is because they are afraid of school shootings, but they are mostly of the deep Christian variety. Best of luck to them, it is hard work!

BlueTimes · 31/01/2021 19:20

I think the timing of the Easter holidays is good as it means it’s a short return to the classroom followed by a couple of weeks with the country more or less in lockdown and pupils not in school.

Woolff · 31/01/2021 19:21

You actually can't just change the school calendar mid year, and you can't alter contracts to direct teachers to work through time they aren't paid.

WanderingMilly · 31/01/2021 19:22

No. Just no.....

Flipflops85 · 31/01/2021 19:22

I don’t think I’ll be able to move by Easter. This term is killing me.

Doomsdayiscoming · 31/01/2021 19:23

No, they should cut two weeks out of the summer holidays to make up lost time though.

HappygoesLucy · 31/01/2021 19:24

@Imapotato

Wonderful two weeks off in lockdown with nothing to do! I’d rather have two weeks at Easter in the hope that we may actually be able to do something!! Even if it’s just a trip to the coast.

A trip to the coast will get you straight back into another lockdown. Don't complain about having nothing to do when you're planning on contributing to the next LD!

Flipflops85 · 31/01/2021 19:27

Who will teach the summer? 2 weeks extra wages for all school staff would cost a fortune.

Lancrelady80 · 31/01/2021 19:59

@Doomsdayiscoming

No, they should cut two weeks out of the summer holidays to make up lost time though.

Why should teachers work 2 weeks unpaid? Several teachers on here already saying they're in their knees. We're all working our usual hours (plus many, many more!) and stealing away the time we have to relax and enjoy and recover from it all is not a good way to go for our mental or physical health- not that many people seem to consider that of the teachers.

And why should the children who have been working hard under really tricky circumstances be deprived of 2 weeks of their break?

The worst of this is that you are suggesting that all this happens when we have a hope of being able to socialise, go out and enjoy life a bit more. But not if you spend your day in a school, obviously.

Two weeks of extra school isn't going to make a major difference in catching anyone up but taking those off the summer WILL do massive harm to individuals, both children and adults.

starrynight19 · 31/01/2021 20:07

@Doomsdayiscoming

No, they should cut two weeks out of the summer holidays to make up lost time though.

Good luck getting the government to cough up the wages of all school staff for that one.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/01/2021 20:12

No, it's all a bit last minute. I'm working out of the home and DS is at school so it's an extra week to find childcare at such short notice.

slothpaw · 31/01/2021 20:33

Why do people think teachers can rewrite the whole curriculum at the drop of a hat? Changing holidays has major implications.

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