53% of UK Parents Back Cutting Summer Break to 4 Weeks
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 17
53% of UK Parents Back Cutting Summer Break to 4 Weeks
1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 17
Summary
Just over half of 5,800 UK parents surveyed by Parentkind said England’s six-week summer holiday should be cut to four weeks, citing childcare costs, work disruption and cheaper off-peak travel.
£25 to £35 activity-day fees and the need to patch together annual leave, unpaid parental leave and paid childcare are driving the push, with some parents saying a staggered holiday could save hundreds or thousands of pounds.
Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver and other education experts say six weeks out of school can worsen pupils’ attention, behaviour and learning loss, with disadvantaged children hit hardest when routine and support disappear.
Only 24% of teachers backed a shorter break in the same survey, underscoring the difficulty of changing a calendar that schools can already adjust locally but the government does not set nationally.
The Department for Education said it has committed more than £600 million to holiday activities and food support, plus £13 million for extra childcare places, while acknowledging school holidays remain difficult for many families.