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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

DS1's school are changing summer half-term dates - Now!

18 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 09/05/2007 22:05

This isn't normal, right? We got a new schedule home today, and they've moved the upcoming half-term dates!

The new dates are actually slightly more convenient for me, tbh, so I'm not actually annoyed, but aren't loads of parents going to be going after them with burning torches over this? What happens re: booked holidays etc etc?

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LucyJones · 09/05/2007 22:06

that is shocking

Original poster

NotQuiteCockney · 09/05/2007 22:06

They did include a small apologetic note.

Seriously, this is complete madness, right? Thank god I don't work or have any real schedule to my life!

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ChasingSquirrels · 09/05/2007 22:08

the May half-term? un-be-bloody-lievable

Ladymuck · 09/05/2007 22:12

Strewth. I have no idea how your school office will handle the fallout on this one.

Definitely not normal, but I'm curious as to why?!

Hulababy · 09/05/2007 22:14

Sounds madness. What about those who have already arranged childcare, time off work and those who have booked holidays away?

WHY are they changing the holiday dates?

Original poster

NotQuiteCockney · 09/05/2007 22:14

Well, at this school it's in June, but yeah.

I can't imagine the school office is having fun with it, no. They'd have to have a bloody good reason, can't imagine what it is. I'll have to ask around.

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Original poster

NotQuiteCockney · 09/05/2007 22:16

Actually, I know another MNer whose kids go there, maybe she knows ...

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MaureenMLove · 09/05/2007 22:21

Our school changed term dates at short notice this year. It was only one day, but quite an inconvenient one - we were due to start back after christmas on 3rd Jan and they changed it is 2nd! Can you imagine? There was complete uproar, as lots of people were away for new year and with little public transport running on 1st Jan, people were not able to get home until 2nd. Not to mention that all the kids were exhausted from staying up til midnight the night before! In the end, head teacher had to send out a letter saying that on this one occasion, she would authorize holiday, but parents still had to make sure they requested holiday.

I know you said it doesn't actually bother you, but for any parents you know who it does bother, they are completely within their rights to say that their holidays were booked according to the term dates they had. This is from the Education Department.

wheresthehamster · 09/05/2007 22:38

This happened to us once - holidays were honoured (if that's the right word) no one was penalised or anything. The parents who it affected most were those who had to rearrange childcare. I can't remember the reason now.

Original poster

NotQuiteCockney · 10/05/2007 07:43

This isn't a state school, so I don't think the Education Department or whatever applies. I'm sure they wouldn't be cranky with people who went on holiday for the 'wrong' week, though, not with this.

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Pimmpom · 10/05/2007 11:19

Yes, but I would be very annoyed if my child was going to miss a week of school because I had booked a holiday when I thought the school would be off. (Has it changed by a week?)

Smithagain · 10/05/2007 12:43

I would be livid!

Our main "summer" holiday is at half term and has been booked for six months. And we have already had a week of authorised absence for a family wedding, so that would take us up to 10 days off. Which would no doubt not go down well!

Original poster

NotQuiteCockney · 10/05/2007 12:45

Yeah it's changed by a week - moved to be earlier. I'll ask around at pick up today, I'm sure somebody will know.

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bozza · 10/05/2007 12:46

So how much has it changed? Is it just the odd day or a full week? I would be livid personally. If I pay extra to take my child on holiday in the school hols and then they end up having to take time off school to go. And then I have to pay for extra childcare for the re-arranged holiday. It really would not go down well with me.

bozza · 10/05/2007 12:47

That is . Really, really not on. Is the school going to pay for a week of childcare for everyone who has booked a holiday for the original dates? Knock it off your fees?

Original poster

NotQuiteCockney · 10/05/2007 14:46

It's a full week earlier. The half term was meant to start on the 8th or something, and is now starting on the first.

It actually helps me a bit, so I'm not personally upset, but yeah, I can totally see why people would be.

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SofiaAmes · 10/05/2007 15:00

Especially since the education department is always going on and on about how you can get reasonable rates on vacations even during the normal school holidays when everyone else is going, if you book them well in advance!

Original poster

NotQuiteCockney · 10/05/2007 22:15

Ah, our half term dates (and other holiday dates) are different from everyone else's anyway, generally, at least by a bit, so in theory our holidays might be cheaper.

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