Parents worried about school holiday changes

A survey, conducted by 4Children in partnership with Netmums, shows that parents are worried about the impact on family life of schools organising summer holidays differently.

More than 1,000 parents responded to the survey and more than three quarters - 77 per cent of parents – said they were concerned that major changes to school holidays dates will make it harder for parents with children in more than one school, because planning childcare and activities together could become more difficult.

The survey reveals that 34 per cent of parents would prefer holidays to be split more evenly during the year, while 38 per cent are happy with the way they are and do not want them changed.

Director of public affairs for 4Children, Claire McCarthy, said, ‘The Government wants to increase the autonomy for head teachers by allowing them to decide the length of summer holidays. Schools should be open during the summer holidays and should run extra-circular activities. This is one way to solve the childcare problem that many parents will be facing.’ She added, ‘Students can also fall behind academically during the summer break, so extra curricular activities provide a routine.’

Lynne Burnham, a parent from Surrey, said, ‘I agree that it is better for schools to decide when they have their holidays but teachers in the area should collaborate with one another so children in different schools have the same holidays.’ She added that school holidays should not be shortened because both children and teachers need a break from school and six weeks should be a minimum.

Kerry Frampton from Dorset said, ‘I am not happy with the changes to school holidays, as it will have a huge impact on my family.  My children are at three different local schools and it would be a nightmare to arrange childcare or activities for them if they are off school at different times during the year.’

Ministers are also concerned that headteachers are authorising absences for parents to take their children out of school and says that children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in both primary and secondary school.

The Government expects schools and local authorities to promote good attendance and reduce absence and from 1 September head teachers will no longer be able to grant authorised absences during term time, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

When questioned about the impact of this change, 44 per cent of parents in the survey said they occasionally take their child out of school during term time.

The lure of cheaper family holidays is perceived by many as the major reason for parents taking their children out of school.

However, 40 per cent of survey respondents said that the most likely reason for them to do so was to attend a specific event like a family wedding or a funeral.

The plans set out in the Deregulation Bill, published in July, propose moving responsibility from local authorities to schools’ governing bodies in England, giving maintained schools more flexibility, in line with academies.

Teaching unions have also criticised the proposals, which they say will make it difficult for families with children in different schools.