To think 4 weeks summer is ok

[comeonlabour]

So as the title suggests, if the plans do go ahead to make summer hols 4 weeks I for one am not against it. I always think 6 weeks is way too long so 4 is more manageable

Also we will have longer half terms of 2 weeks in some cases instead of 1 so all good

Anyone else feel the same/agree with me

For primary schools you could extend the Easter holidays (we only get 2 weeks at the moment), then have 3 weeks in late May/early June when the weather is good, and another 3 in August when the weather should still be ok. That gives people 3 chances to go somewhere hot or have half-decent weather in the UK and plenty of different options for going abroad so flights don’t go through the roof. It would allow parents to on spread the cost of clubs and/or take their leave more spread out.

Secondary could keep their usual pattern - parents with kids in both would have some overlap during each new primary holiday so they could still do something as a family.

Not a SAHP, but I absolutely love the six week holiday. Would hate to see it go, but I appreciate it’s a logistical nightmare for many. I’m lucky that I can work round it.

I don’t really get the childcare argument. Sure it’s a struggle over the holidays, but if you’re just moving the weeks elsewhere won’t it still be a struggle for the new holiday weeks?

I’d always thought the argument for spreading holidays out more was because of the attainment slump in September when the kids can’t remember a blighted thing because they haven’t written anything or added anything up for 6 weeks. that 6 weeks was far too long to be out of an academic environment for young kids. 3 three week breaks over April to September might be better than the current standard.

Having said that, long holidays for teens gives them the opportunity to engage in self directed projects that younger kids can’t, which is valuable for exploring what they like and want to do after secondary school.

This is a bad idea. As most younger secondary DC still require a bit of supervision, you're extending the amount of holiday time working parents with more than one have to cover. I know sometimes primaries and secondaries even in the same area don't always have exactly the same holidays even now, but a system that bakes it in is worse. Annual leave already doesn't stretch far enough for a lot of working parents.

I hate the idea.

And how are you sorting childcare for this?

Pretty sure this will be a non-starter as they’d have to get it past the teachers first. And I wouldn’t agree to the change.

Why do you need childcare for secondary school children?

@Bubble2024 same way I sort it for the 6 weeks in summer now. Except it would mean fewer weeks in a row for DC shoved into holiday clubs, because between us DP and I could probably manage a week or even two at Easter, a week in May/June and a week together in August (or some arrangement like that).

I would rather keep the holidays the same length but have more annual leave so I can take them all off! These days it’s often too hot for school in July/August.

This has been under discussion for years and 8 doubt it will happen, I’m a teacher and I get 8 weeks in the summer and it’s great, I also think students need a proper break too. Other countries have much longer summer breaks than us.

I love 6 weeks . It’s summer ! Who wants extra time with rubbish weather?

I doubt it will get the go ahead. Where are they go to find the extra money to pay the staff to open an extra two weeks?

They're not going to make the summer holidays 4 weeks. Too many teachers would quit!

Well mine have between 14&15 weeks in the summer. It was hard going when they were little 😆

@VaccineSticker it wouldn't be an extra 2 weeks of school - those weeks would be added to the other holidays.
So 2 weeks at October half term or extra on Easter/Christmas.
Personally I wouldn't want a 2 week half term.
Maybe an extra week at Christmas.

I suppose some younger teenagers need supervision, my friend’s daughter struggles alone at home. If the child is not ready the. they are not, it’s not something you can force them to do. They are all different. I was happy on my own as a teenager but not everyone’s the same.

Ah I see thanks for the clarification.

This comes up regularly and the unions always veto it. I can’t see this going through, teachers would be up in arms.

We’re also parents and I love my summer holidays with my children. With the growing recruitment and retention crisis anyone would be stupid to take away one of the few perks of the job!

Why even have kids Ffs

It's 9 weeks in NI. I enjoy it.

Ain’t that the truth!

I work full time as a teacher and absolutely treasure my time in the summer holidays with mine!

I want a week less for the summer holidays, but a week extra at may/June half term

It’s not about not planning for childcare during the holidays it’s the extortionate cost of childcare for 7 weeks altogether that is a struggle for parents. I feel 4/5 week summer then half terms is more manageable cost wise. DH and I manage by taking a week off to cover each other as getting holidays off and fighting over weeks off still happens at my work and that’s with 7 weeks to choose from!

In my area, we have already taken a week from the summer and have a two week October break. It leaves us with about 4.5 weeks off for the summer. Speaking as a primary teacher, I actually miss the longer summer as seems short now. The longer October half term is better so overall I think it works ok.