Asking for help because I had planned to take some leave over Easter

[Youlookfamilar]

My team is Team Y and we sit in dept Z.

A colleague in dept Z is going on leave for 2.5 weeks during Easter. The head of dept Z, my manager’s manager, has asked me to cover the colleague’s work. I said yes but after speaking to the colleague, I realised the bulk of the work would be during the Easter half term break. I had planned to take 4-5 days off during April to look after my children.

Would it be reasonable to ask my manager for someone else to be assigned to help me and cover for the days when I am on leave.

My team is very understaffed. Two people have left in the past month so everyone is extremely overworked.

There is no difference between asked to and told to at my work place.

If I declined it would be mentioned in my mid year review and as an example of when I could have helped out the team. I felt compelled to say yes.

I’m confused by Easter not being a half term? What else is it?

It's the end of a term, like summer and Christmas. Half term's are in October, February and May because they mark the half of a term.

Ahh I see, thank you

Pretty late in the day to be booking Easter off in any case. Would you definitely have had it approved?

I think you're focusing on the wrong thing. You've asked if someone else can be assigned to help when you're on leave but it seems the real issue now is that you've agreed to cover and probably won't get your leave approved.