Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think primary schools are breaking up too late this year

207 replies

notforonesecond · 20/12/2023 09:56

I know some schools finished last week but my 2 don’t break up til Friday.

They’re exhausted, they’re acting up, the Christmas excitement has taken over and turned them into a right bag of dicks this week.

I don’t remember ever breaking up this late when I was a kid.

And they’re off til 8th January. God help me!

Should I just be glad they’re out of the house?

OP posts:
Rycbar · 20/12/2023 20:15

From a Reception teacher, we are crawling towards the end!

x2boys · 20/12/2023 21:27

Toomanysquishmallows · 20/12/2023 11:16

My child’s special school finishes on Friday. I honestly wish they were breaking up earlier , as there will be a long holiday to fill after Christmas.

M child's special school.also finishes on Friday so I hear you but wether the finish early and go back early or finish late and and go back late its still a long break ,I'm knackered ,he's knackered and its showing in his behaviour

Smellslikesummer · 20/12/2023 21:29

soberfabulous · 20/12/2023 15:36

We broke up on December 7, I don't know how you are hanging in there until this week!!!

Same! 7th and back on the 4th
I’m not complaining, great for them to be out of school for the build up to Christmas.

DragonMama3 · 20/12/2023 21:49

We're back on the 3rd. Which I think is far too soon.

DragonMama3 · 20/12/2023 21:49

We broke up 2pm yesterday.

DragonMama3 · 20/12/2023 21:55

Sleeping in was lush!

Wbeezer · 20/12/2023 21:59

I distinctly remember breaking up from High School in Scotland at lunchtime on Christmas Eve once! My memory could be playing tricks on me ( it was 40 years ago) but breaking up on 22nd or 23rd definitely not that unusual. I think it's fine personally.

Amana · 20/12/2023 22:12

Mariposistaa · 20/12/2023 17:44

Doctors, office workers, those working in retail, cleaners, police officers - are ALL knackered. And not all will get a nice 2 week break!

So pleased our children do though….

Kitkatfiend31 · 20/12/2023 22:15

Sahara123 · 20/12/2023 10:02

I work in a secondary school and we feel the same I can assure you! It’s an all through school so also the Primary.
Lots of tired, excited and unmotivated pupils isn’t fun. It’s set by the council, not the school, trouble is if it’s too early working parents need childcare. I’m not sure how they come up with these dates though!

I also work in a school and would much rather it this way than going back on 2nd January!

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 20/12/2023 22:23

Not really but I'm at work until Friday anyway and also the days in between Xmas and new year. I've been able to take 4,5 and 8 off as that will be after my busy period so it's worked out better personally

Sahara123 · 20/12/2023 22:25

@Kitkatfiend31 actually that’s a good point!

mrshoho · 20/12/2023 22:25

Completely agree. At our school we are limping on but it's been a long long term. The kids are shattered and we are too! Roll on tomorrow!

Stopandlook · 20/12/2023 22:28

Back on the 2nd Jan here - broke up last Friday. 2nd way to early for pupils and teachers I feel!
And no, I’m not a teacher but I know how full on teaching is.

Cheshiresun · 20/12/2023 22:29

Yep, I wish LA's would co-ordinate together too. Mine go to school in another LA where they don't break up until Friday, whereas the LA where we live have already broken up last Friday! Doesn't make sense as many children go across borders to different schools, some friends have children across two LA's with different half terms.

Sn1859 · 20/12/2023 22:32

velvetoptions · 20/12/2023 16:26

but showing Disney Cars to teenagers at school?

Show quote history

I work in a senior school, you’d be surprised at what movies the children ask to watch. Teenagers seem to love a Disney movie or 2!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 20/12/2023 22:35

I don't know how the LA decide the dates but they seem to pluck it out of thin air half the time. Our last day of the school year in Juy is a Monday. Last day is always a half day. I mean, is any parent REALLY going to send their kid in for a half day on a Monday? It would mean anyone needing to book Fri/Fri or Sat/Sat holidays lose a week off the limited number of summer holiday weeks they're stuck to. It's nonsense. Rubbish for staff too even if some schools have decided to make it an INSET day.

Cwtshcwtsh · 20/12/2023 22:37

YADNBU. Even one of DS’s TAs said this week that it would have been better if they’d broken up earlier. DS has had two days off since last week and will be off for the last day of term tomorrow as he’s absolutely transparent and exhausted. He’s also playing up in every possible way, so I’ll be very glad when he’s a bit more chilled. Solidarity OP!

Cwtshcwtsh · 20/12/2023 22:39

Rycbar · 20/12/2023 20:15

From a Reception teacher, we are crawling towards the end!

Superhero!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 20/12/2023 22:41

TheYearOfSmallThings · 20/12/2023 10:53

My son's term finishes at 3:20pm on Friday 22nd, and that is too late for my liking. Mainly because are flying to family and the airport on a Saturday two days before Christmas is going to be atrocious.

In my school (we break up on Friday) we've already lost some kids cos they've flown off to visit families in their home country before the rush. It's far too late for lots of reasons. Ill thought out by the council.

meganorks · 20/12/2023 22:44

I disagree. I'd rather this than over a week at the start to wait till Christmas. They do fuck all the last week anyway, so doesn't really matter if they are tired.

Stopsnowing · 20/12/2023 22:50

Should be easier as they need time to get ready for Xmas and don’t need so much time at the start of January

webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 21/12/2023 03:50

My DS finishes at 3.30 on Friday. Our LA never do half weeks. Last year it was 23rd so this does feel slightly better! He had an appointment on Tuesday afternoon and I decided to keep him off all day because he's beyond tired. I feel like it's still a long slog until Friday afternoon though

ElaineEliLitty · 21/12/2023 07:28

We finished on 14th and they have all this excited energy that chilling out isn’t really an option. I’m knackered 😴

StragglyTinsel · 21/12/2023 07:37

It would be a bloody nightmare if they had a whole week off before Christmas.

SecondHandFurniture · 21/12/2023 07:49

DS finished yesterday which is spot on really. Nursery used to close for 2 weeks then round up so they finished on the Friday previous to that. Childcare from around the 15th to us finishing work on the last working day (so 22nd this year) was always a nightmare. Grandparents are much more available to look after DS from the 2nd to 5th Jan!