Shorter summer holidays for kids?

[WilfSell]

IPPR report here

I quite like the idea of five eight-week terms with two week holidays in between, and four weeks holiday in the summer, but not sure what the wider implications are.

But I still think the holiday companies will profit. They will put up prices during all the school holidays which will undoubtedly piss off all the people who aren't restricted by school term dates.

One thing is for sure-the holiday companies will cash in!

Over here in canada the summer break starts in mid june until the last week of aug so nearly 10 weeks which is great.
The kids get a really long summer, but they have really good childcare arrangments with summer camps as most canadians only get 2 weeks paid holiday leave.

There is 2 weeks off over christmas, 1 week for spring break which is the first week of march and the fri & mon over easter thats it, oh and the odd snow day

It's so much better then having to juggle so many holidays with childcare and i think the children do more continued learning.

As far as I know , countries like Spain and France take all of July and August off in the summer and I am not aware of people complaining that it affects learning. Quattrocento's point about hot classrooms is very true.

mrs weasley - hear hear!!!!! they seem to grow taller and more confident in the long holiday - and LL - like the sound of those canadian hols. childhood is short enough as it is, and they learn a lot outside school, educuation is not just academic!!

It will make holidays for parents tougher to sort, and will increase chances of people taking term time holidays I reckon.

I can't see why they need to change it. We have had the same system in places for many many years - inactit used to be slightly longer when teacher training was added to these holidays rather than spread about. No one ever complained about education standards slipping then, so why is it different now?

We won't benefit I can almost guarantee.

Holiday prices for those 4 weeks will go through the roof. And the demand will go through the roof.

And a 2 week holiday fit into a two week half term will be tougher too (especially when avoiding the 4 week cram)- can you imagine the mark up on getting a weekend flight just to fit in with that holiday period? How many parents will end up taking children out for the 2 days before or after a holiday to make them fit?

They can't stagger them much as that would be a nightmare for those with children at different schools, especially those living on LEA borders.

School is not childcare so the issue re working and non-working parents shouldn't come into it.

I can never understand why children are only thought to be learning something when in the classroom. There's far more to learning, than listening to a teacher in a classroom.

Keep the holidays, I love the long summer holidays. And I wouldn't want longer holidays when the weather is bad.

I agree - children are learning plenty when out of school in the holidays too. It is just not formal learning, sat at a desk.

I'd rather see a longer summer and fewer breaks in the year. For a working parent all those half term and between term breaks are such a pain. Much aeasier if I could ge more of it into one big chunk and less in bits and prices throughout the year.

Also, I like to do something non school related but still education with my kids over the summer. Camp? Sports? Whatever they are interested in. Send them to visit relatives they so rarely see. But, I can't do that for a week in October or February.

I think that long holidays are great. It gives the chance for the child to do something constructive as well as having a rest.

Last summer my son learnt to ride a bike and his swimming improved dramatically. However these are not seen as achievements by schools because they are not reflected in league tables.

In France a lot of children go on Colonie de Vacance from a fairly early age. I have been looking at these two when my son is a bit older. As my son has two working parents we can afford it.

www.cifel.fr/

asso.objectif-sciences.com/To-learn-French-with-high.html

T he only reason I would not send him now is that I think he would be horribly homesick. However at eight or nine years old he would probably love it.

If you do not want to send your child abroad then there are good holiday childcare schemes in most towns. Yes, they are expensive, but if you choose to work and have children then you should expect to pay for childcare.

Um- doesn't anyone else experience totally exhausted 6-7 year olds practically falling out of school after an 8 week term- the flip side of weeks and weeks off in long holidays?

Actually, I'm surprised this hasn't turned into an SAHM/working mum discussion. I'd love it if the DCs got 6 weeks off (OK, so I'm 'state'!) IF I could ALSO get 6 weeks off. The things we could do! The broadening of their horizons we could facilitate! The character building nature of 'I'm bored' we could explore! ... I was amused at the Canadian example about huge long holidays- complete with packing the DCs off to what we might call 'Summer Camp' albeit day not boarding. GREAT if your DC LOVES team this, team that, go, go go! But not so fab for the DC who likes quiet, one on one time. And isn't it interesting how some of us champion long holidays, having cited the 'just being kids' argument, then choose to send the DCs off to 'learn' this, be 'tutored' in that. Yet DAMN the tyranny of the desk! Also let's not overlook how flippin' EXPENSIVE organised child fun, fun, fun can be! (28 quid per DC per day at SuperCamp, for instance).

AND are the work/play balance needs of a 4 year old the same as those of a 17 year old? For surely both could well find themselves in the current holiday/termtime conundrum we're discussing.

Finally, re holiday companies bumping up the costs: a reasonable point BUT the market is finite (ie there are only a given number of parents seeking holidays through the summer season) therefore the market demand shouldn't be as great IF say there was a fortnight in early June to play with OR August. It'd be a brave company who attempted to 'peak price' hike prices for both AND expected custom. And it is a hell of a hassle if your DCs go to different schools as in different LEAs/ state:private, but it's a factor you consider when you choose to sends DCs to different schools, surely.

I think we should follow the private sector and have long 10 week summer holidays but make up for it by doing some Saturday mornings and longer days. That's what they do round here anyway.

What is the point in having time off during wet October or wet February.

Most countries have far longer summer holidays than us. I think 6 weeks is about right.

Working for a smallish company where some of us cannot take holiday same time as others, there will not be enough Summer weeks for those with school kids to take - it's hard enough now!

I find that even in secondary school kids come back after half term still shattered.

And the come back after the long summer break often having forgotten how to learn

Longer holidays at half terms would allow people to go away then, rather than in the summer only. I like going away at whitsun, because I don't like it to be too hot.

I think that this would have real benefits to the kids

Our primaries here still have the two weeks at Whit and it's great for my dds - they are so much more refreshed for the summer term, especially as they didn't get 2 full weeks at Christmas and were shattered before they even went back.

Most of dd's friends go away this 2nd week - we can't of course as dh and I are back at school.

I like the idea of 2 short terms between August and Christmas with a decent break in between - normally the autumn term is 3½ months and the little ones especially are on their knees by Christmas.

One year we had a two week holiday for the Oct halk term and it was great.

The kids came back rested, and ready for work. Sadly the idea of moving to 6 roughly equal terms fell by the way side.

The worst term is the summer one. The kids are never rested enough from the week half term.

Not so bothered about February, but wouldn't mind two weeks in May and October. (Actually both this year and last we were ill during February half-term so yes a longer break would have helped us).

Four/five weeks during the summer would suit my family. By week 5 they're ready for some routine again, and DS2 does suffer academically from the long break (although both DS1 and DS3 don't).

miljee over here "summer camps aren't all about go go go, they have weekend open house's so you can choose what camp your child would like to go to.
They aren't like the crap play schemes that you get in england, they are very much an extention of the class room but alot more fun!

Just a few to choose from, science, maths, adventure, music, dance, soccer all kinds of sports, art & Crafts the list is endless there would always be something to suit all.
The cost is about $100 a week plus you can claim back the tax at the end of tax year, this is something that really lacks in the u.k as the parents don't get any support financially and kids get "Bored"

Children here are classed as children and not made to be young stressed academic geniuses by the time their 8yrs old,let children be children and enjoy their long summer holidays.