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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think these term date changes suck!

77 replies

Justanotherissue · 23/02/2022 17:25

NC for this.
Just found out our school has changed the October and Christmas half terms for the next school year.
They’ve added an extra week in October - so now 2 weeks- and only 1 week for Xmas (break up 22nd).
I’m quite pissed off but don’t know if I’m being unreasonable or dramatic- my thoughts:
1- childcare for two weeks in October will be a hassle, holiday clubs won’t be open for 2 weeks
2- the run up to Christmas with primary aged kids is great, breaking up 2 days before Xmas eve is extremely limiting
3- It limits the chances to travel to family over Xmas
4- I think kids need a two week break in the colder darker months after more school, can’t see the need in October.

Anyone else’s school do this?

OP posts:
Dinosauratemydaffodils · 23/02/2022 17:52

We always get two weeks in october plus break up just before Christmas (NE Scotland). It works for us because we usually do a week's holiday in October but still have a week to catch up with friends etc. Our local holiday club is open for the full two weeks.
At Christmas they finish on the 23rd, go back on the 9th of January.

Clymene · 23/02/2022 17:53

School holidays are typically mandated by the county council aren't they? Schools can't change them as far as I know

angelsandinsects · 23/02/2022 17:55

Is it because they're bringing all of their INSET days together and having them in one block rather than dotted around the year? DD's secondary school does this. It took me a while to get used to it but now I quite like it - particularly as it saves the hassle of random days throughout the year like she had at primary when there never was any childcare.
She still gets 2 weeks (to the day) over Christmas & Easter, a week at Feb & May and then the summer holiday.

ibblebibbledibble · 23/02/2022 17:56

Oh my god, breaking up on the 15th for Christmas?! That would be horrendous! We’ve always finished around 21st.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 23/02/2022 17:56

Our school didn’t similar when it became an academy and could dictate holidays.

We had 5 weeks in the summer and 2 in October. No one complained. Losing a week off the already long summer hols was fine. Bonus week in October was amazing! Cheaper holiday and less busy roads.

DetailMouse · 23/02/2022 17:57

@Clymene

School holidays are typically mandated by the county council aren't they? Schools can't change them as far as I know
Academies set their own holidays.
DetailMouse · 23/02/2022 18:00

One academy chain locally has given all their schools a 10min longer day (which apparently facilitates daily maths and English) and worked out that that adds up to a week, so they get an extra week in October

DrCoconut · 23/02/2022 18:01

I don't like breaking up early for Christmas as we celebrate a more traditional Christmas period. So 22/23 finish and go back after 12th night would be great. But 2 weeks in October is crazy. It's usually too cold to go anywhere much and dark early. An extra week on the summer in July would make more sense and also help with everyone wanting annual leave at once.

WombatChocolate · 23/02/2022 18:02

So it’s actually 9 days in December and 2 in January - so 11 days.

I thought it couldn’t possibly be exactly a week.

Overall your school will be giving you the set number of days.

As others have said, many are Doug. 2 weeks in Oct now. However, most lose a bit from the summer holiday…taking it off Christmas is unusual. It does make it feel a short break.

All you can do is write to the Head and Governors to express disappointment there was no consultation with parents about it and you don’t like the changes. The trouble is though, they can’t please everyone and some people will prefer the longer half term.

Hollyhead · 23/02/2022 18:03

I wish May half term could be a fortnight and then break up a week later for the summer - much nicer weather!

Stevenage689 · 23/02/2022 18:09

YABU by calling 11 days a week.

Everyone will have different preferences. It is unusually short but it's hardly a problem. You'll have access to cheaper holidays or days out at half term.

Theimpossiblegirl · 23/02/2022 18:14

@Helouiet

Try private school holidays. 4 weeks at Christmas, sometimes 2 weeks in October. 4weeks at Easter and 8 weeks in summer!
It's not really the same issue is it?
ChuckBerrysBoots · 23/02/2022 18:16

I would much prefer a 4 week summer holiday with two weeks at October and may half terms, retaining two weeks for Easter and Christmas. Summer holidays are way too long, and longer breaks at may and October gives greater flexibility for getting away

Howshouldibehave · 23/02/2022 18:20

I’d hate that! Is it a school decision or an LEA/MAT one?

JuergenSchwarzwald · 23/02/2022 18:21

I think 2 weeks off in October is good, but not at the expense of the Christmas break, I'd expect a week to come off the summer holiday instead (which I believe is what happens in parts of Cheshire).

YANBU OP.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 23/02/2022 18:22

@Hollyhead

I wish May half term could be a fortnight and then break up a week later for the summer - much nicer weather!
Yes I always said this too! 2 weeks in May, 2 weeks in October and 4 weeks in the "summer".
ToMoveFromGGingOrNot · 23/02/2022 18:23

We finish on 22nd, back in on 3rd so just over a week for us too.

But we still have the usual week at October.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 23/02/2022 18:23

2 weeks in October is crazy. It's usually too cold to go anywhere much and dark early

It gets dark early but if you can go away before the clocks go back it's not so bad. Weather is actually usually ok in October, better than in August at times!

Duxiejhrhrvjz · 23/02/2022 18:30

My children's school collect up all the random teachers training day and then we have two weeks off in October. It means we can all book a reasonably priced holiday while it’s still warm! I imagine it’s very annoying for other teachers but I personally love it. I also prefer not to have the children off for the week before Christmas so that I can finish off the last bits for preproductions that they can’t see.

ChateauxNeufDePoop · 23/02/2022 18:31

Sounds daft to do it at the expense of Christmas but where I am the current school year had 2 weeks in October at the expense of one in summer (which they filled with inset days anyway). The extra week in October was amazing for a short break as it wasn't a nationwide week off so lots of places were cheaper.

Makes no sense at Christmas though when a lot of people try to take a good chunk of time off to spend with family.

SugarAndCoffee · 23/02/2022 18:33

It's easier for me to get time off work in October than the Christmas period so I'd prefer it

Original poster
Justanotherissue · 23/02/2022 18:38

@Stevenage689

YABU by calling 11 days a week.

Everyone will have different preferences. It is unusually short but it's hardly a problem. You'll have access to cheaper holidays or days out at half term.

Ok well every other year they’ve broken up the week before - so we have still lost a week and it’s been added to October
OP posts:
Original poster
Justanotherissue · 23/02/2022 18:40

Yes I always said this too! 2 weeks in May, 2 weeks in October and 4 weeks in the "summer" better for parents but actually I would hate that as a teacher, I would definitely want a longer summer holiday as a teacher

OP posts:
Lampface · 23/02/2022 18:40

Hang on, so only one week over christmas means they're in school over new years?!

Lampface · 23/02/2022 18:42

In my LA we have 2 weeks off over October too and then 1.5 weeks over christmas but I couldn't imagine going back before new years.