To think we don’t need more school holidays?

[Halftermforever]

The schools locally all seem to be either consulting too, or already implementing a 2 week October half term. This has really riled me because:

1. The extra childcare will cost £500
2. Schools already have 13 weeks holiday, whilst parents have 5 weeks. Is it really necessary?
3. I get fined for taking my child out on holiday, but now suddenly the extra week won’t have an impact because they’ve reduced lunch by 10 minutes!

The talk about reducing staff and student absence is baffling. Yes it’s peak time for illness and stress, but the rest of the country seems to get on with it without having to run on 6 weeks off, 6 weeks in, 2 weeks off, 5 weeks in, 2 weeks off!

From July - December the schools are off almost as much as they are in!

It’s insane and not possible for working families to keep up with.

AIBU?

Is this an extra week or have they taken the days from elsewhere?

this is the contentious point. No against more time off in Oct so long as that time is taken from another holiday, or insets are put together.

it’s the extra week off that some of us would struggle with as we work and don’t have annual leave to cover it. Or the available clubs

It’s an extra week. The time is not being taken from anywhere else. I’ll be honest it doesn’t overly affect me as my 2 dc are old enough and sensible to be left at home in the holidays whilst I work. My dc is taking his GCSEs next May so I’m not chuffed about him missing a weeks learning but again I am lucky in that he is very self motivated. It was interesting about staff absence halving compared to last year and I know my dc have complained about having temp teachers who are ‘useless’ so all together me personally I would prefer the extra week holiday if it means my dc have more chance of having their regular teacher. And it’s £40k the school have saved.

For other parents with different children I can imagine it is a nightmare.

About pupil attendance

Actually reading it back I missed that it affects the primary stage. That would have been an absolute nightmare for me and working if this had been implemented when my dc were in primary. Thankfully they are now yr7 and yr11. I feel for primary school parents.

Yes I think for older kids (and sensible ones) this is probably easier - it’s the younger ones that are harder to juggle!