School have changed holiday times

[Terracata]

Not sure how I'm going to manage.

I already feel like I'm drowning re school holidays.

The school my son goes to have 4 extra days of holiday compared with other schools, but have a slightly longer day. The 4 days have so far been 4 separate days, one at Christmas, one in summer, one in October half term and one at Easter end of term.

I've not found these hard to cover as they are odd days here and there and my family/friends are happy to help.

The school have just sent an email that they won't be doing this anymore and will be having a 2 week holiday in October instead. My family can't cover a whole week. I already massively struggle with covering the 14 weeks of leave my son has on my 5 weeks of annual leave.

My son's dad abused us both and he's not allowed to have him overnight. I have a restraining order against him. He isn't an option.

Does anyone else's school do this? How do you cope with annual leave as a lone parent? I'm not on a big wage and struggle to find childcare for my son and it's so hard to work when he's at home. The school keep changing things, they've only just lengthened the school day which was a nightmare because I had to change my working hours after already arguing for flexible working.

Feel like I'm in overwhelm.

Any advice for covering school holidays would be greatly appreciated.

Starting from 2025 I should add

Do they not have a holiday club? Failing that, a childminder in the area who will do holiday club? Would you not get some of this funded too if you're not on a high wage?

If you have multiple friends/family members that normally help you out, would they not be able to do a day each to cover the extra week?

Otherwise families generally do some or all of the following
-work flexibly (if job allows)
-pay for childcare
-do "child swaps" with other parents
-take unpaid leave

How old is your son? Old enough to leave alone for at least some of the time?

Other parents may be in the same situation so is it possible to arrange with them to watch your son for a few days and then you take leave and reciprocate? Not sure of your work situation but could you request condensed hours for one or two weeks freeing up one day and then take annual leave for the others?

If three or four parents are able to jump in then you may only need to take 2/3 days out of the 10 as annual leave.

Move schools? I would! It was a nightmare when I was on my own with mine I very frequently had to hand in my notice for the 6 week holidays and job search whilst I was off! Thankfully always secured something for September but I won’t ever forget it,it was helllllll

Holiday club is extremely expensive where I am. £200ish a week for the two I am close enough to to get back in time for work. I earn 30+k a year so am in that bracket where I don't get much help and if I don't have the money to pay for it upfront it's really difficult.

Check that they are meeting legal requirements - are they state or academy? If state they must open 190 days per year.

I think its bad that the government gave academies an exception on this, as lots of them now muck about with term dates to add an extra week of holiday, its a nightmare for working parents.

I think giving over a year’s notice is reasonable - I understand it gives you a problem to deal with but also a lot of time to find a solution.

I have two family members who help, my mum and dad. One of them can usually get a day or half a day off so I only need to work with my son at home for half the day. If I take unpaid leave I won't be able to pay my rent. He also has additional needs so it's hard to leave him with other parents. Summer holidays nearly drove me to madness, was in tears a lot when childcare fell through and I had presentations or important meetings. Just feel really low and barely keeping my head above water.

It's because of the obsession with attendance. They've stated its so parents can have a week in the year where they can go on holiday where prices aren't inflated and it will prevent parents from taking children out of school for a few days when they previouslu just had the Thurs Fri off (so parents would take their child out the mon/tues/weds)

They've stated its so parents can have a week in the year where they can go on holiday where prices aren't inflated and it will prevent parents from taking children out of school for a few days when they previouslu just had the Thurs Fri off (so parents would take their child out the mon/tues/weds)

Yeah i don't buy this as the same could have been achieved by moving half term week so it didn't coincide with the dates most schools are using.

I think a lot of schools do this as they want to reduce utility bills, give staff more time off but also reduce what they pay to term time only staff like TAs.

If the holiday club is £200 and you have a year's notice, can't you put by £4 a week to cover it?

Honestly? I can yes but I already do this for summer, Easter, Christmas etc. I had managed to save £800 but then my car broke down and it cost me £850 to fix it so ended up in my overdraft. But yes I am doing my best to save as much money as I can.

If your son has additional needs, are you claiming DLA?

How old is he?

I'm not. He has suspected ADHD, possibly ASD, SENCO is wonderful and they have to spend a fair bit of time with him at school. He also has sleep apnea and glue ear but the waiting list to get it sorted is absolutely huge. They won't consider a diagnosis of ASD/ADHD whilst he's currently unable to hear properly as his issues could also be linked to his hearing, which we are waiting to get fixed. ENT is over a year wait for an initial appointment.

Op if you rent and need to use holiday clubs then even on 30k you'd likely qualify for universal credit. Even if you only get payment during school holidays then it'd help. It's definitely worth putting in an application.

I am a lone parent and used holiday clubs. Universal Credit covers most of the cost unless you're on a high wage.

You will get UC help on £30k for childcare costs, it doesn't taper off until about £50k.

I earn £29k and still get £500 per month UC and I don't even have childcare costs. You will get help.

Tax free care voucher scheme? All working parents I know use clubs. No one has 12/14 weeks annual leave except a teacher friend

I get a bit of universal credit and if I have childcare costs I will definitely report them. I often find it hard to come up with the upfront cost, but have added an overdraft in the past which worked.

It’s such a pain. I’m not working at the moment but I’ve also got a child with adhd/ asc and other issues and have left an abusive relationship. So I’ve been planning how I will handle all this when I get a job and it will restrict what I can do and what I can earn which is so unfair as their dad is on loads of money.

Definitely put in a claim for DLA. Get the paper form as they backdate it to when you call. If he’s getting extra help at school this is evidence and if sleep apnea causes disturbed nights and you can’t use friends as childcare then this is extra that you are having to deal with that you can put on the form.

Also can you get universal credit to help with childcare and holiday clubs? Have you done a benefits calculator?

I don't get anywhere near this. I get about 200 but the LHA is far lower than my rent. I am also house hunting for something cheaper.

How old is your son? Sign him up to cadets. The ones around here do a week away in the summer.

You could ask Uc to consider help with upfront childcare costs through the flexible support fund for the extra holiday care you’ll need.
explain that it poses a risk to your job etc and see if they accept it