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Original poster

Christmas term break up date

40 replies

BrendansDanceShoes · 20/12/2017 18:44

I'm in an area of the country where term ends this Friday, and kids go back on the 8th. Clearly those at the council didn't think how unhelpful this is for preparation for Christmas. Anyone else think it would be much more sensible to have finished by today or at the end of last week and get the kids back earlier in the New Year ? It would enabled parents to take time off before Christmas and prepare with kids, and possibly visit family and friends to take presents. This is far more family friendly than realising you cannot logistically see family until the first week of Jan. I don't envy anyone who needs to travel on the 22nd or 23rd. Parents that are lucky enough to have jobs where you can take holiday at Christmas would be heading back by the 3rd, and not having to deal with childcare for the first week of Jan. Grrrrrrr.

OP posts:

HunterHearstHelmsley · 20/12/2017 18:45

Nope. I much prefer a later break up. The kids are hyped up no end if they break up too early

Toffeelatteplease · 20/12/2017 18:47

I want a shorter summer break and a longer Christmas

Littlelambpeep · 20/12/2017 18:48

We are the same. Great to be off until the 8th

PurpleDaisies · 20/12/2017 18:50

It would enabled parents to take time off before Christmas and prepare with kids, and possibly visit family and friends to take presents

It’s pretty hard to take time off before Christmas in lots of businesses, especially retail.

PurpleDaisies · 20/12/2017 18:51

I’m also happy to be off until the 8th due to finishing later.

Starlight2345 · 20/12/2017 18:51

We broke up yesterday.. I am working till Friday.. not sure how it helps though DS has done nothing Monday , Tuesday at school so an extra day would be another day of fun in school.

HateSummer · 20/12/2017 18:52

We broke up on the 18th and it’s too early. We’re off on holiday soon and I needed more child free time to get organised (yes I know school isn’t childcare, but whatever!)

We’re going back on 4th January. What’s the point of starting school mid week? It’s stupid.

Original poster

BrendansDanceShoes · 20/12/2017 18:52

Yes, but I would have preferred more build up time with the kids. Few chances to get them out and about to see Christmas things. By the time it's new year, it's just full and drab and nothing is happening.

OP posts:

TittyGolightly · 20/12/2017 18:53

Xmas is cancelled here. We don’t do much for it anyway, so the late finish suits me.

Maybe councils are trying to stem the fucking ridiculous consumerfest this festival has become.

Original poster

BrendansDanceShoes · 20/12/2017 18:57

I don't see how it's any easier to have holiday in the New Year year if you work in retail, given how all the sales start straight after Christmas. I like the idea of longer at christmas and less time in the summer

OP posts:

RatOnnaStick · 20/12/2017 18:57

We finished today and back on 8th. TBH both my children could have done with finishing last Friday. These last 3 days they have been tired and grumpy and run down.

Namelesswonder · 20/12/2017 18:58

We break up Friday, back the 9th. Perfectly happy with that. I finish work on Friday and get 2 weeks off. Will travel to visit family between Christmas and New Year, then have a relaxing week at home. OP you will never please everyone

MrsDilber · 20/12/2017 18:59

Mine broke up yesterday.

PurpleDaisies · 20/12/2017 18:59

I don't see how it's any easier to have holiday in the New Year year if you work in retail, given how all the sales start straight after Christmas.

It isn’t necessarily any easier but your original post says that parents could take time off in the run up to Christmas to spend it preparing with their children. That’s often pretty tricky.

pinkflamingo121318 · 20/12/2017 19:03

My two broke up yesterday and go back on the 4th.

My mums girls broke up Friday and also go back 4th!

I would much prefer them to have been at school until this Friday.. because I can't cope with the fighting! And we're only on the first day!

My 5 year old is being a right misery lately, I wish I could've left him at school until this stage passes haha!

Aragog · 20/12/2017 19:05

I work in a primary school which finishes in Friday.

I can see how it can be useful to parents to finish later, and I will definitely benefit myself from going back later. I know a few friends who are going away either just before or just after Christmas - great year to get a bit of winter sun in for those who don't like to be away on Christmas Day. Would be doing the same if DD didn't have mocks on her return back to school.

However, this week is hard and slow going. The children are shattered and over excited. They are in little state to do anything useful and behaviour has taken a downward turn to an extent from some little ones, so many tasks this week are, with the best will, limited in terms of educational benefit - well of the type of educational benefit OFSTED (and some parents) would consider good anyway.

Absences are also fairly high too. Many are ill - we haven't had a full class (out of 9 classes) this week so far, and some classes have several children off with a range of bugs and viruses. There are also some children off as they have gone away for Christmas, to see family in other countries, etc - they can't really leave it til Saturday and Sunday to get home in time in some cases.

We are trying to get through work, but its been a long Autumn term this year.

Friolero · 20/12/2017 19:09

My three all finish tomorrow, then two are back on Wed 3rd and the other on Thurs 4th.

I'd have preferred them to finish yesterday, it doesn't seem long enough when they don't even have two full weeks off.

Jenniferturkington · 20/12/2017 19:11

We broke up today and go back on 2nd. This week has been a waste of time work wise- kids are wrecked, loads off sick, loads off today as obviously heading away. All this as our LA trialled a two week half term.

PrimalLass · 20/12/2017 20:20

I hated it a couple of years ago when we broke up early. We were bored by Christmas, the kids did not have that down time to play with their new stuff after Christmas as we then rushed about seeing family. I much prefer to go straight into it.

MomToWedThorFriday · 20/12/2017 20:27

People who are happy with breaking up Friday clearly don’t work in education! We break up at lunch time tomorrow and to be quite honest, the kids are vile, we aren’t able to teach them anything in this state and the teachers are knackered too. It’s bloody ridiculous!

SparklingSnowfall · 20/12/2017 20:32

We don't finish until Friday and back In on the 4th, I much prefer it as it's definitely keeping a lid on the excitement!

haggisaggis · 20/12/2017 20:40

I’m in Scotland and finishing this late is normal. I remember on occasions they were in to Christmas Eve!

Back 8 th Jan. With Christmas on Monday there is 2 full days to do stuff.

BrieAndChilli · 20/12/2017 20:40

Mine break up on Friday and to be honest it’s just too late.
They are all knackered/run down/ill and need to have a couple of days downtime before xmas. As it is they are breaking up on Friday and then we go away to MILs on Saturday for xmas.
I wish they had broken up today and then gone back on the 4th instead of the 8th.

Zazu44 · 20/12/2017 20:53

We broke up Friday 15th and back on 2nd January!!!!! Far too early

MilkyMess · 20/12/2017 21:16

This sums up my school!

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