February 26th 2024.
As I walked into my son Theo's bedroom, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the tough winter school term in England. Gently shaking his shoulder, I whispered that it was time for him to get ready for school. But as he opened his eyes, he mumbled sleepily that it was still dark outside and snuggled deeper under his warm duvet. I couldn't blame him for wanting to stay in bed, as it had been a struggle for me to get up as well.
This time of year always seems to be the most challenging. The cold and dark mornings, the dreary weather, and the never-ending weeks ahead can take a toll on anyone. And even though we have the festive break and February half terms to look forward to, they don't always feel like opportunities for rest. The holiday season brings its own stress with present shopping and finishing off projects before the end of the year. And the February break, though brief, always seems to fly by in the blink of an eye. It's no wonder we all feel exhausted.
But what if there was a solution? I know my son wouldn't be too thrilled with me, but I'm all for getting rid of the six weeks' summer holidays. Before you start gasping in shock, hear me out. Instead of having a long summer break, why not spread the holidays evenly throughout the year? This is something that the Nuffield Foundation also recommends, as many argue that the current system is outdated.
My proposal is simple - reduce the summer break to four weeks and distribute the remaining weeks throughout the year. This way, children would still attend school for 39 weeks and have around 13 weeks off. Maybe the Christmas and Easter breaks could be extended to three weeks, giving both the children and us, their parents, regular and longer breaks throughout the year. It makes more sense to spend those cold and rainy days at home, rather than trudging through the slush to school.
The Welsh government is already implementing a similar plan in their education system. They believe that taking a week off the long summer break and adding it to the October half-term would benefit both children and parents. The minister for education and Welsh language, Jeremy Miles, stated that families struggle to find childcare during the six weeks break, and the most disadvantaged learners suffer the most learning loss. By spreading out the holidays, education can work better for everyone.
My son just finished reception this July, and it was our first official six weeks' holiday since he started school. Though I loved having an extended break with him, it wasn't without its difficulties. The first challenge was figuring out who would take care of him while I worked. Thankfully, my parents were a huge help, as they have been regularly looking after Theo and his little sister since they started nursery. But even with their help, it wasn't easy to find someone to take care of Theo every day.
My husband took a day off every week, and I worked on the other two days, while looking after Theo on the remaining three. Though we were fortunate to have this flexibility, it still impacted our finances as I couldn't work as much during the holidays. And I know we're not the only ones who struggle with this. Many other parents have to pay for holiday clubs or find other ways to take care of their children while they work.
Moreover, finding things to do every day during the holidays can be challenging, especially when the weather doesn't cooperate. We had planned on spending our days at the park, having picnics and playdates with friends, and the occasional trip to the cinema or museum. But the rain seemed to follow us wherever we went. And even when it wasn't raining, it wasn't warm enough to spend the whole day outside. As my husband worked from home, we ended up paying for activities every day, which added up quickly.
And it wasn't just us. Every parent I spoke to during the holidays had the same complaint - "I've spent so much money!" Even when we went to free museums, we still had to pay for transportation and food. It all added up, and the impact on our finances was evident. It makes more sense to have shorter breaks throughout the year, rather than one long break that drains our bank accounts.
So, should we consider shortening the summer holidays? I think it's worth considering, not just for the sake of parents but for the children as well. It would benefit those living in poverty, who rely on school meals for their daily nutrition. And as the wise Mr Miles pointed out, it would mean less of a learning and socializing gap for the children. So let's rethink the long summer holidays and make education work better for everyone. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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