Which weeks do you book off work for holiday in the year?

[Listerdieselengineswroughton]

I'm a lone parent of two young primary schoolers. I've recently started a new job and have to use breakfast club and playschemes during school holidays.

I get 4 weeks paid holiday a year, 2 weeks of which are when the business shuts down over Christmas.

Last time I worked I didn't have children so booking holidays were not an issue.

With all this in mind, which weeks do you think I should book off as holiday from work?

I have no idea, but would like to save money on childcare costs anywhere I can by choosing dates carefully!

I welcome your recommendations :)

Bump

one in summer holidays, one in easter? It is entirely up to you - I am in the NHS so pretty much get what I'm given!

You have to take 2 weeks of your annual leave when they tell you to? Is that legal?

Yep it's legal - think about teachers, holiday park staff etc ... lots of jobs where there are fixed holiday times.

I work in a school so whilst I have no choice, my holidays match perfectly with kid holidays. So long as I work in the same area!

I am going on holiday on Monday, without the kids! Slate me now!

You are statutorily entitled to 28 days, which can include Bank holidays (8), presumably this is your 4 weeks - but bear in mind that 3 days of the 2 weeks at Christmas are bank holidays, so you should only be using 7 days of your holiday for those 2 weeks and therefore have 13 days to use elsewhere.

When you take them depends what you want to do with your holiday time. If you want to go away would you go out of school holidays to make it cheaper (as they are pre-school ATM).
Otherwise, if flying the end of Aug is cheaper then end Jul/early Aug. not sure about going away in the UK for cottages / holiday parks, they seem to be the same all through the holidays.
Will the holiday play schemes be available at all times of the year or will you have to plan around these?
Will their NRP have them at all in the holidays?

lots of things to consider.

I wont be going abroad or flying anywhere no! No point taking them out during school time either as both junior and infant school have fines for this.
The children are age 5 and 7.

NRP is completely absent in all senses and has had no contact for years.

Playschemes available all year round.

Oh sorry you said primary, I misread as preschool.

I'd probably do a few days at Easter, a few in May half term and the rest in the summer either as a long block or two shorter ones.
I guess that depends on whether you can do part weeks at the holiday playscheme and the cost - I know a lot of schemes round here are cheaper if you book for the whole summer.