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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

If your child Private school discuss holiday arrangements

30 replies

Namechanged2251 · 07/04/2023 14:11

My child only just started private school. In the past holiday childcare arrangements were fine as I booked her into holiday clubs but I’m really confused what to do now. How do the rest of you do it?

She broke up 2 days before state so didn’t have any holiday clubs, and she goes back 3 days after state school so again no holiday club on these days.

OP posts:

DrMarciaFieldstone · 07/04/2023 14:12

DC’s schools run their own holiday groups

MelsMoneyTree · 07/04/2023 14:13

This isn't an AIBU so you'll probably end up with a bunfight about private schools.
As a pp said, schools have their own holiday clubs.

Original poster

Namechanged2251 · 07/04/2023 14:17

That’s the first place I looked. Their holiday camp dates are not in line with when schools break up. It always starts a few days after and ends few days before they go.

OP posts:

toomuchlaundry · 07/04/2023 14:18

Longer holidays are one thing you have to factor when sending to private schools (DS goes private so not going to give you grief over your choice of schools). You will probably have to cover about 2/3 weeks over the summer too. You may get slightly cheaper holidays so good time to choose a family holiday before state schools break up.

MaltbyMaeve · 07/04/2023 14:19

Annual leave, grandparents and nanny. There’s not that many days that don’t line up with state schools.

Parker231 · 07/04/2023 14:19

Holiday camps were run by the school so dates covered school holidays.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 07/04/2023 14:35

Namechanged2251 · 07/04/2023 14:17

That’s the first place I looked. Their holiday camp dates are not in line with when schools break up. It always starts a few days after and ends few days before they go.

Well, yes, you do have to find some cover yourself, or take holidays. I work part-time to help.

Madcats · 07/04/2023 14:36

We live in an area with lots of private schools. Most run holiday clubs, as do some of the (non-school) after school providers.

I've not used them for years, but I think PGL camps sometimes operate beyond the standard state school holidays.

Otherwise you might have to buddy up with another family and take it in turns to supervise the kids.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 07/04/2023 14:37

And agree with PP, this needs factored in when you plump
for private school, some of their holidays are up to 21 weeks

willywoowig · 07/04/2023 14:41

My sons school have their own holiday camp luckily; people from his school and local state attend too.

GiltEdges · 07/04/2023 14:58

We use a mix of holiday clubs where the dates align with state school holidays, and annual leave to cover the rest. It's not brilliant as apart from Christmas DH and I never get any time off together throughout the year, but it's a small price to pay for DS to have a better education.

Mumsafan · 07/04/2023 15:05

I have always loved school holidays , basically because I am lucky enough to be able to work from home if needed.

DD private and hasn't needed looking after for a few years , but prior to that ( so up to Year 8), she went to various holiday clubs.

Active Camps were her favourite and started almost as soon as term ended.

Other activities would include week long things such as music groups, drama groups, multi sport etc.

Also we live in a different parts of the country to MIL so we'd send her there for a few days as well .

Genevie82 · 07/04/2023 15:39

@GiltEdges

This OP. Basically you have to be very organised for the year ahead- print off the school calendar and contrast with your local state school holidays then plan your annual leave to cover the weeks that state schools at still running. Book holiday clubs to cover state school holiday time as this will be the only time there are holiday clubs to access and use the weeks that your private school is off to have your family holidays.
Some families send kids to grandparents for a week or so to cover, share a nanny or find a childminder.

Hotcrossbunnowplease · 07/04/2023 15:41

Annual leave and grandparents. Try making friends with other families and take turns to have a few kids over one day then they reciprocate

Lovetotravel123 · 07/04/2023 15:47

This is why I had to take a job in education which would allow me to work term time only. As they get older it does get easier.

EastEndQueen · 07/04/2023 16:02

It’s a massive pain tbh. We tend to try to go away as soon as they breakup in the summer holidays (cheaper!) returning in time for the holiday clubs to start, but otherwise, agency nannies, family, annual leave….their school does clubs sometimes but it’s a really unhelpful 10-3 which doesn’t really allow for work.

saltwater1985 · 07/04/2023 16:57

How old are your DC?
It is well known that private schools have longer holidays.
Take annual leave? Family/friends?
What do others do in her class? I'd ask around those parents

TakeMe2Insanity · 07/04/2023 17:26

Our school has 3 weeks holiday, they run camps for 2 of those weeks (1 and 3), then the middle most people are going away or using a local club eg childs after school activity camp for a week.

Twilightstarbright · 07/04/2023 17:40

Generally holiday clubs but for the last 3 days of the Easter Holiday there’s nothing so grandparents are having DS one day, and my friend is having DS another then I have hers on the 3rd day. It’s a huge pain on those bits of the holiday.

AliceMay55 · 07/04/2023 18:27

Annual leave or nanny ?

Or a local child minder?

CindersAgain · 07/04/2023 18:31

We do:

I work a four day week
Go away for a week
Take a day off a week, DH does the same
Have a student to take them from 1-3 or 4 twice a week

Attempt to book them into the odd club.

FlounderingFruitcake · 07/04/2023 18:32

The school runs it own club for the first week, then it’s the state school hols so loads of options for clubs. The random 3 extra days on the end we have to suck up but I only know of one family that doesn’t have either a SAHP, a nanny or an au pair so few would actually find it a problem.

Ossoduro2 · 07/04/2023 18:35

its a good time to to take time off work - we tend to book our family holidays during those weeks when most schools are still at school because holidays are cheaper and it tends to be quieter.

GloryBees · 07/04/2023 18:36

It’s no surprise private school holidays are longer. That needed to be factored in when deciding if you can offer it to your child. Most private school parents I know have a parent who works at most a few hours a week or suggest you employ a nanny? Most parents spend the time on holiday away.

2bazookas · 07/04/2023 18:38

Even though we each have a six figure income and very important careers , sometimes when the au pair has a medical emergency during the school hols, we just have to stay home and feed and entertain our own children.

Luckily, while we were waiting for the ambulance, she had time to make some little name labels for all of us.

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