an extra 20 mins a day for an extra 2 wks off

[JLH]

Originally Posted by mandco

Good idea or not? would you chose it?
I was reading an article about a school who have decided to extend the day by 20 mins and in return give the kids 2 extra weeks off.1 added to may 1/2 term the other oct 1/2 term they say it will allow parents to benefit from cheaper holidays but I can't see that happening as some schools already have those dates of anyway and it will just extend the dates that holiday companies charge a premium for.
It will however allow parents to take a 2 week break over those periods without having to worry about attendance issue.

I do think its a good idea in someways esp as they are 2 of the best times to visit disney but will it actually increase prices in the long term?

Edit-I believe they are including inset days into the extra weeks rather than having them at random times throughout the year

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The private school I work at doesn't finish until 4 and it gives the children the extra week in may and October. If all schools did it then I am sure prices would go up.

[Scaramouche]

Sadly the holiday companies would just up the prices again. Maybe we could add 20 minutes to each work day and get another 2 weeks off work too!

[PIGLET38]

I would really struggle with childcare if they had a further 2 weeks off. I love the idea of extending the Feb and Oct half terms to give more holiday options but not doing it this way. My preference would be that they reduce the summer holiday by 2 weeks and use those 2 weeks to increase the Feb and Oct half terms. 6/7 weeks off in the summer is just too long in my opinion and this would suit me better.

[Apricota]

for childcare this would be a real challenge. like the idea of better value holidays though.

[ely3857]

Originally Posted by PIGLET38

I would really struggle with childcare if they had a further 2 weeks off. I love the idea of extending the Feb and Oct half terms to give more holiday options but not doing it this way. My preference would be that they reduce the summer holiday by 2 weeks and use those 2 weeks to increase the Feb and Oct half terms. 6/7 weeks off in the summer is just too long in my opinion and this would suit me better.

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I'd prefer this as well. More bundles of two week breaks so two weeks for half terms and a month in summer.

[loobz]

I would much prefer a shorter summer holiday and then 2 weeks at May half term and 2 weeks at October half term. I think childcare issues would put working parents off extending the school day to make longer half term breaks. It wouldn't solve the problem of high cost holidays during school breaks but it would allow the option of 2 weeks at times other than August, which isn't ideal for every family.

[birdiesX4]

Originally Posted by CreakingStool

Mixed feelings on this. I think a lot of private schools use this option which is why they have more school holidays.

They could accomplish this anyway by reducing the long summer holiday to 4 weeks and add the 2 weeks on at May and October respectively. My council already does this for primary at Spring Bank so my kids have 2 weeks coming up and have 5 weeks in summer.

For me it's more about having more options of when to take a holiday than it is about cheaper holidays (we've always managed to take foreign breaks at reasonable prices with planning and booking DIY). School terms need more 2 week breaks for parents to choose from, with a week you are limited to Sat and Sun flights and a 7 day holiday which isn't always practical. Personally I don't like to take a typical European beach holiday in August as it's too hot, we've been lucky to be able to choose 10 days in May/June but if you don't have that option then you're a bit stuck. April is a bit early, Christmas is late and generally a time to be at home.

Making all the term and half term breaks 2 weeks long and summer shorter makes more sense to me.

In saying goes that, 20 mins more on a school day I would be happy with but no more than 30 mins as I think its too much for younger children although I know others will disagree.

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Would be a disaster for us as DH would struggle to get two weeks off during the summer school holidays if they were only 4 weeks long. Ten people at his grade and only two off at a time and they are restricted to certain weeks as they have to have their weekend shift in the middle.

[Disneyfreaks]

Originally Posted by PIGLET38

I would really struggle with childcare if they had a further 2 weeks off. I love the idea of extending the Feb and Oct half terms to give more holiday options but not doing it this way. My preference would be that they reduce the summer holiday by 2 weeks and use those 2 weeks to increase the Feb and Oct half terms. 6/7 weeks off in the summer is just too long in my opinion and this would suit me better.

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I agree with this - covering childcare in the august holidays is a nightmare - I'd personally prefer to see it reduced to 4 weeks, then have an extra week tagged onto the May & October half terms !

[Greyfriars]

My school day was 8.45am to 4.00 pm. We had 9 weeks holiday in the summer, there again we never went on holiday and childcare was by the immediate family. Paying for childcare was in the realms of fantasy.

[daytonababe]

If you change school holidays prices will just rise to cover those weeks . I would have thought this idea would cause a lot of childcare issues and expense for working parents . Overall the percentage of children taken out for term time holidays it's quite small , I think that's often forgotten .

I can't imagine why anyone that doesn't go abroad would want kids home for 2 weeks in Feb and 2 in October like I've seen suggested loads of times . Sure it's fine for those that go long haul but for those that holiday in the UK which is the majority it's not much use .