Summer holidays should be longer

[noblegiraffe]

Our kids have the shortest summer holidays in Europe, Italy have 13 weeks, even Ireland has 9.

They're under pressure so much at school they need more time to just be kids. Classrooms are so hot in the last few weeks of term that it's impossible to learn effectively anyway.

I think we should add at least an extra two weeks to the summer holidays, so break up near the start of July. This would bring us more into line with private schools too.

And with longer holidays it might help recruit and retain teachers, and reduce competition for summer annual leave slots for working parents. It could even reduce the cost of holidays as 'peak season' would be longer.

More in line with private schools … that’s because they work Saturdays!

This. Family is closer in Italy and there’s an expectation that childcare will fall to the extended family.

I think 6 weeks is plenty to allow kids to destress. And I very much doubt increasing it will help with teacher retention (I’m assuming they’re not leaving due to the short holidays 😂😂).

better ideas would be to allow kids to wear a summer uniform or pe kit from June and stop penalising parents for taking kids out for a holiday during term time.

The one near me doesn't. And it only finishes later than my school because their have over an hour for lunch, they have exactly the same amount of lesson time as state schools. They still break up early for the summer.

It is interesting to hear about all this subsidised/cheap holiday childcare in other countries. So it is possible!

Extra couple of weeks ☑️
Having those weeks at summer❌

Extra week at Christmas & some other time would be better.

All school staff should be salaried the same way teachers are - support staff are asked to do more but conditions wise they've been demoted radically.

Much of Europe has cheaper housing costs and factories etc shut down for Aug so parents can take time off. We just don't have the same culture.

there’s an expectation that childcare will fall to the extended family.

Defo not that culture!

It is interesting to hear about all this subsidised/cheap holiday childcare in other countries. So it is possible!

But childcare as a whole is much cheaper & subsidised, our society doesn't want that.

In the real world, it’s incredibly costly and difficult to keep kids entertained & not snacking too much over the summer holidays. Then there is managing work alongside this. Even with a holiday thrown in and various day trips, the amount of times I’ll hear ‘I’m bored’ from my only child is going to drive me insane. Kids can’t just roam the streets entertaining themselves

Why would anyone choose to have their children in childcare? Yes I love my kids with me when I’m off work. I love them seeing their friends, going on holiday. But why would I support extending summer holidays to pay to put them in childcare they wouldn’t want to do?! I’d rather they were at school

This 4-day working week for both is fine on paper, as long as the 'off day' is the same for both sides otherwise you get the same childcare issues. And presumably we'd expect shops, Dr's, dentists, hospitals etc to operate all 5 days of the week, so they would have additional childcare issues on that day.

I remember loving going to a childminder in the school holidays! I loved it

But why would I support extending summer holidays to pay to put them in childcare they wouldn’t want to do?! I’d rather they were at school

It can be a useful time to learn skills etc. I did dance clubs & art workshops as a dc (my mum didn't work), it was very cheap. I had a great time, it was kind of like a youth club.

We need better child care in the summer. Many countries have free or much cheaper childcare clubs, holiday camps. We don’t need more schools

In theory this is a good idea. However, who’s going to fund it? Who’s going to administer, organise and staff these schemes… that’s why commercial organisations step in and the price goes up. Catch 22.

In France they generally have e at least 35 days, plus a 35 hour week, heap childcare and more bank holidays!

also the reason they break up earlier in places like Italy and Spain is because it’s so hot there by the time June comes. What we think of as “too hot” is their normal early summer temps. It can regularly be nearer to 40 degrees there.

Can't speak for other EU countries but my nephew in Berlin goes to kindergarten and it is pennies compared to here, seriously no comparison. Id imagine other forms of child care/ summer clubs are too so perhaps parents have more scope to work and have their kids cared for. When old enough they can take care of themselves of course. Primary aged kids in UK would cost rhe parents a fortune if they have no family to help and no extra money for clubs to ensure they were safe and engaged.

Even if they aren't learning anything because it's too hot or they're too tired? Do you think they'd rather be at school?

Those clubs still exist. Kids can still do that- for 6 weeks!

I can only go on holiday for two weeks, three weeks max. I struggle to occupy my DS for the rest of the holiday - its only 3 weeks, but I cant afford more than a week of a summer camp. So longer holidays will mean nothing unless we get a month off work as people do in Italy or France (i think) and unless the tickets etc will not go up 3 times during the school holidays.

Unfortunately… you’re forgetting that teachers (if they’re conscientious) will be working for 3 or 4 weeks over the summer to prepare for the forthcoming academic year … hmmm … that’s your problem…. Especially when GCSE and A level classes are on your timetable.

I agree , it’s very sad how short the summer holidays are in the U.K. . I grew up having 3 months and some of my best memories are in the summer . Here feels like it’s all about school
, the minute the school breaks there are already uniforms backpacks and all sorts in the shops , kids have no real break from thinking about school .

Those clubs still exist. Kids can still do that- for 6 weeks!

I haven't said they don't, I was just answering why you would extend holidays and use childcare.

What has changed is that the ones near me are expensive and or only run for a few hours. Not much use for working parents.

It's 5 weeks in Switzerland for the summer, so the UK isn't the lowest. And without holiday care being offered at the school, I would struggle to cover that with 5 weeks of annual leave being standard here. They have 2 weeks each in October, at Christmas, in February and at Easter, which makes up for the shorter summer break.

Mine would absolutely hate any ‘childcare’. So yes they would 💯 prefer being at school with their friends than that option. They would like to be less hot. Hence my earlier comment about appropriate uniform (I am not wearing a shirt tie and blazer to work!). Of course they would always say they want to be at home (indefinitely) don’t all kids- so that’s a silly question.