Summer holidays: is six weeks too long or not long enough?

[JustAnInnocentQuestion]

If they got rid of half-terms and added them to the summer holidays, they could start at the beginning of July. Would that be too long, or do you think half-terms are necessary?

DC wouldn't cope without half terms. School is hard enough for them without making the terms even longer.
I want longer summer holidays as well as keeping the half terms!
I believe kids needs longer off school than they currently get.

We are in nearing the end of a 7 week holiday in Scotland that began at the end of June.

I'm quite happy which the half terms we have. 2 weeks in October and 2 weeks at Easter. Although we only get 2 days in February

The kids are always shattered by then snd need the break.

Me too!

I’d keep as they are, but with an extra week in October (so two weeks total).

id take all the inset days and put them into a Monday to Friday week, and schools chose when to schedule, giving parents the option of getting an out of term tune cheaper holiday!

DS is a different child when he’s relaxed into a holiday, which always highlights how difficult he finds school and how anxiety producing it is for him. 6 weeks gives a good 3 weeks to just be himself having wound down, before he starts to worry about school again.

I'd prefer slightly longer summer holidays (they seem to fly by) and keep half terms as they are.

The winter term is too long
The spring term is usually too short (unless Easter is really late!).
6 weeks is a tad too long in the summer (usually nearer 7 weeks with inset days and staggered starts etc). DS hates the lack of routine!

Loose a week or 2 in the summer. Have more time in October and May half terms.

Start Easter hols first Monday of April , regardless of when the bank hols are - yes, this may mean a 4 day weekend the week before if Easter is really early

I think we should keep the half terms and if anything makes the summer slightly shorter and the half terms longer.

Little and often is better for children, they need the break.

The problem with the summer term and messing with May holiday is timing of exams. I think they could bring the summer breakup forward a bit though - July seems mostly wasted with winding down activities. Sports days and proms might suffer though!

Half terms are definitely in children's best interests. The summer break is an archaic system based on when more one income households existed. Now most kids are stuck in holiday clubs or on screens while their parents wfh and are more stressed and guilty about trying to juggle work, childcare and money. And holidays are too expensive and overpriced.

I'd do three weeks summer and three weeks Christmas, normal half term and Easter and two weeks flexible within certain dates of calendar year (with understanding that some work may need to be completed)

I wouldn’t want the summer holidays cut any shorter. 6 weeks is already shorter than most of the rest of the world! Losing three weeks when it’s more likely to be warm and sunny, in exchange for days when it’s cold and wet would be a terrible idea. I’d much rather have days at the park or woods than having to think of expensive places to go just because it’s too wet to be outside!

two weeks flexible within certain dates of calendar year (with understanding that some work may need to be completed)

That sounds like a potential large amount of work-setting for teaching staff.

I have really seen a positive change in my 5 yr old DD this last six weeks, I wouldn't want it any shorter. Her immune system has had chance to recover after all the many viruses at the end of Reception year. She's started sleeping better and playing better and more independently, less emotional, less tantrums. I just get the sense she has really needed a good long rest from school and she has benefitted from it.

Children do need a good rest from their 'work' of school. My son's tics almost disappeared completely over the summer, returned just before school started (probably the anticipation causing some stress)

I'd go the other way and make half terms 2 weeks long and reduce the length of the Summer holiday to just 3 weeks. Then start the school year a bit earlier around last week of August and end the school year a bit later around the last week of July. A couple of weeks off in May would be good for lots of people, as would a couple of weeks of starting end of September/early October. I personally think the Autumn term in particularly is too long to just have a single week half term in the middle of it.

Christ no. The summer is way too long. Children are losing a half term of learning over the summer. And most parents are tearing their hair out by September.
The terms are way too long, they are exhausted by October break.
The holidays need to be spread out more, not less.

If we're basing it on weather, they should have 3 weeks in June and 3 weeks in September. July and August are nearly always a disappointment, weather wise.

Same I'd rather have the feb half term added to the summer holiday or May half term.

No one will extend the May half term because of the external exams.

The Autumn term is long though-I’d probably sacrifice a week of the summer holiday for two weeks at October half term.

I appreciate I only have 1 child who is now 11 and much easier, but 6 weeks is not long enough. I can't believe they go back this week, I feel like there has barely been a summer break!

I'd quite like a longer Summer. 6 weeks go far too fast!

I think the summer is too long. It takes ages to get the kids up to speed again.
I think half terms should be longer, and summer holidays shorter.
Just space it all out over the year.

I understand the argument for a 2 week October half term (that term is really long). Selfishly thought I’d hate 2 weeks in October. My child is terrified of all things Halloween, which means there are so few places we can go which aren’t ‘spooky’ themed.
I think a complete overhaul would be needed. I’d lose the half terms altogether but have four terms - one for each season.
Then we’d have a 3 week winter holiday, a three week spring holiday (it wouldn’t need to coincide with Easter as that moves), a four week summer holiday and a three week autumn holiday. Hopefully that would mean something to suit all families. Those who had family abroad could visit regardless of seasonal weather.
Obviously, I don’t believe anything this radical would ever happen but it would be interesting.

I feel that an 8 week holiday would be so much better , 6 weeks is too short , I use to have 3 months holiday off school , and most Asian countries still do , my nephews start their summer holidays from the end of May

I really wish it would be 8 weeks at least, it’s a full 3 months in some countries and yes they get term time holidays too, just adde another two weeks , I’d love more time with my girls

Wow really, how do you accommodate child care for that length of time of you work?

Too long as it is. Would rather have two weeks at the summer half term and October half term and maybe a month in the early summer and back at school mid August when it always rains anyway. More options for holidays and less time to forget everything and kids to drive you crazy.

I’d rather have have a slightly shorter summer holiday and a bit more discretion to take kids out of school for up to, say 5 days, for their birthday, family events, cultural or other enriching experiences. Could even be used for a week long family holiday as I think there is real value in family time even if it is just a week on a beach somewhere. I think you’d have to have certain weeks where attendance was required ie exam periods etc for older kids, but for the most part I think schools could be far less precious about missing school for things that have a value outside of classroom learning.