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.

What I sometimes think we need is selected weeks in the school term where it's less academic and more relaxed.
Like a play scheme style week but part of the school term.
This will give children a rest and break but they are still at school.

OP, you only need to read the endless threads on here to see that many grandparents refuse to provide childcare because they prioritise their social life and going on holidays and England is neither France nor Spain or Italy in terms of family relationships. It's lovely to read how other countries and LAs organise childcare for working parents.

I really can't see the point of having half terms. It takes children time to settle in school and get a routine each school year and then after only 6 weeks let's interrupt it. Especially in February the weather is bad and you can't do any outdoor activities. And of course schools don't treat half terms as holidays! Children are given endless homework and are expected to study for GCSEs, A-levels, mocks etc. And teachers end up using them for marking so they are not actually holidays for them either.

I trained to teach my subject, not to be a play worker.

I would have hated that. I’m autistic and I loved the structure of the lessons. I thrived by sitting at a desk learning. I hated playtime with a passion. So doing weird play days at school all day I don’t think I would have coped. I know this isn’t the same for everyone. But this is the problem. How do you make school work for each child? You can’t unfortunately.

Interestingly when the idea of shortening the summer holidays was discussed in Finland the Parents' Union (which I didn't know existed but now I kinda want to join) was against it even though they are the ones that have to deal with childcare issues (which isn't available at all outside of the major cities), because they feel it's so important for children to have a proper break from school, even though it disadvantages them.

As regards to the learning loss over the summer, one year it was so bad with DD that she actually forgot how to write the letter G (she was 11!) But they get back up to speed quickly once school starts again because they always start the year with review work - so its a problem but it has a solution that works.

Well yes. This is one of those 'I'm a teacher not a clown' scenarios.

A bit of variation is nice though.
Surely you can find a more "fun" activity that could be done than just academic work.
What's your subject?

Maybe an option could be for those who want to sit at a desk doing worksheets could choose that for the week.
"Playtime" doesn't just mean running around the playground though.
Children could do board games. Make jewellery. Experiment with Lego.
Which could still be done sat at desks in a classroom environment.

English.

I'm not paid to deliver "fun". I'm paid to teach students my subject.

So you never do a more relaxed lesson?
Like watch a film version of the book/play you are studying.
Play a game of Countdown?
Spelling Bee?
Word searches?
Hangman?

I'm really getting the impression that people don't want their kids in childcare, so want school to become childcare instead (for free!) but still call it school.

Well I prefer being at home with my daughter and would love a longer summer holiday - but for many it's not that people want childcare but they need childcare.

Which is fine, but don't make teachers do it and pretend it's school.

It was just a suggestion 😂
A lot of schools do the "fun" things anyway.
Countdown (both the Words and Maths) was a popular activity when my daughter was in Year 6.
The children loved it.

The curriculum is full to bursting, so no.

My son gets an 8 week summer holiday and he misses school and his friends. It's far too long. My DH and I both work full time, so we have to try to eke out our leave as far as we can and try to do as much fun stuff with our son and arrange for him to.meet friends, but he does get bored sometimes. I think 6 weeks is plenty. Yes - he needs to switch off after a very busy school year, but I don't want him to completely get out of the habit of learning.

Not so appropriate or useful in year 10 and above though!

The curriculum needs changing.
It really does. It's just too much.
That's not a dig at the (incredibly hard and well respected from me) job that you do 🙂

Dunno.....half the class would probably love to pretend they're the clock 😂

We are doing something different this year, but some years we have been to a festival over the Bank Holiday weekend - gives you something to look forward to, and only involves UK travel (though it can still be a bit expensive TBH).

Kids do love a doss lesson. See also "Blooket" and "Kahoot".

No, I think 6 weeks is right. I beleive other countries have less time off during the year, where as our kids have a week or two week holiday every six weeks. I prefer it spaced out like that and I think it's better for the kids. They get a break more often and they don't have a huge chunk off to forget everything.

I'm sure they would. But my job is to teach them, not to be a performing seal.

I did a very fun lesson with y10 last term. They played with parenthesis. That's about as fun as it gets.

@noblegiraffe I've got the blimmin Countdown clock music in my head now and it won't go away......

Might as well get some use out of it then