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Daily Mail
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
End of long school holidays? Half of parents want summer slashed to FOUR weeks and longer winter breaks
Half of frazzled parents want summer holidays to be slashed to four weeks and half terms extended, a new survey shows. Research by the charity Parentkind found many families think the up-coming six-week break is too long, often citing childcare as an issue. Most teachers also support a four-week break, as long as they do not lose the total amount of holiday they get throughout the year. Pupils in state schools start their break from this weekend, and will be off until early September. Previous studies have shown pupils regress during the holidays because they get out of practice with their reading and writing. The charity's research is based on its own poll of 3,000 parents and a separate poll of 9,000 teachers by Teacher Tapp. It found that 53 per cent of parents would back plans to reduce the school summer break to four weeks from six and only 33 per cent would oppose this. Many parents would prefer two-week half-term breaks and a longer Christmas holiday. Most half-term holidays last a week, although increasing numbers of schools are offering a two-week October half term. A shorter summer break was seen as a financial positive by 32 per cent of parents, compared with 17 per cent who saw it as a negative. The proportion in favour on these grounds increased to 47 per cent among parents of children entitled to free school meals. Thirty-seven per cent of parents overall and 43 per cent of those whose children were entitled to free school meals said a shorter break would be beneficial for childcare, compared with 14 per cent overall who said it would be detrimental. The Teacher Tapp polling found that 62 per cent of teachers would accept a shorter summer holiday, 38 per cent would support it being reduced from six weeks to five and 24 per cent were in favour of it being cut to four weeks. However, 35 per cent wanted to stick with the traditional six weeks, while the remainder gave other answers. Jason Elsom, the chief executive of Parentkind, told the Times: 'While children will no doubt be looking forward to extended time away from school, the long summer break is a challenge for some parents. 'Our large parent poll shows that most parents want to knock two weeks off the six-week summer break to give teachers and children a month off instead. 'Parents tell us that a shorter summer holiday would help with costs and childcare, which would be particularly welcome at a time when some families are struggling to keep their heads above water. 'We need to make sure the long summer break doesn't add further stress and hardship for parents, particularly those on low incomes.' A recent survey by Coram found summer holiday childcare costs in Britain have increased by 4 per cent in the past year, to an average of £179 per child per week. It is almost three times the price of after-school club in term time.
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Parents call for summer holidays to be slashed to FOUR WEEKS to help ease costly pressure of keeping kids off school
FED-UP parents are begging for summer holiday to be slashed to four weeks to lighten the load of childcare over summer. More than half of parents would back a shorter break, a poll by charity Parentkind has revealed. 3 Parents are demanding a shorter summer holiday for kids Credit: Getty 3 The price and pressure of finding childcare for six weeks has led to families to complain about the long break Credit: Getty 3 A poll found over 50 per cent of parents want a shorter summer holiday Credit: Getty The call to cut the holiday comes just as state schools in England prepare to break up, leaving parents bracing for six weeks with the kids at home. Chief executive of the charity Jason Elsom said: 'The long summer break is a challenge for some parents. "Most want to knock two weeks off to give teachers and children a month off instead.' Parents say the long summer causes serious headaches and that they struggle with trying to finding cover at work and attempting to keep children entertained. Read more News Elsom added: 'A shorter summer holiday would help with costs and childcare, which would be particularly welcome at a time when some families are struggling to keep their heads above water.' Parentkind's survey found 53 per cent of parents support cutting the break to four weeks, while just 33 per cent are against it. Among parents of kids on free school meals, the support jumps to 47 per cent, showing a strong link between holiday length and financial pressure in the household. Parentkind says some low-income families have told them they've even skipped meals during term time to cover school costs. Most read in The Sun Many families said they'd prefer longer Christmas breaks or two-week half-terms instead of the long summer slog. Teachers are also on board, with 62 per cent saying they'd accept a shorter summer. Nearly a quarter of teachers back a straight four-week summer, while 38 per cent favour trimming it to five. There's going to be uproar at my kids' school thanks to new mobile phone rule - they'll no longer be safe, I'm outraged Only a third still want to keep the traditional six-week break. Private schools already have a longer break, with pupils getting from eight to nine weeks form early July to early September. Some even stretch to up to 10 weeks, depending on the school. In Ireland, students also get long summer holidays the length of summer holidays varies slightly between primary and secondary schools. Irish primary schools typically have nine weeks of summer holidays whereas secondary schools enjoy a whopping 12 weeks. Across the Chanel, France has an average school summer holiday of eight weeks, siimilar to the UK. However Italy veers closer to Ireland, giving students 11 to 12 weeks off school from early June–mid September. In Germany it varies state by state, but on average pupils have a six week break. However childcare costs in the UK in summer are almost three times higher than after-school clubs, now averaging £179 per child per week, according to charity Coram. Experts have also raised concerns that children regress academically over long holidays, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Elsom warned that for struggling households, a six-week break can feel 'more like survival than a holiday'. The government is under pressure to rethink the school calendar, with Parentkind calling for a full national debate on how holidays are spread through the year. The idea of two-week half-terms is gaining traction among both schools and parents. Some UK schools have already trialled shorter summers and longer mid-term breaks, with mixed responses. In Wales, a plan to shorten the summer holiday by a week and expand the October half-term was put forward in 2022. It was shelved after consultation responses were sharply split among teachers, parents and unions. However childcare prices rising and many parents at breaking point, pressure is mounting for England to rethink the six-week summer. The Sun has reached out to the Department of Education for a comment.
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Parents call for summer holidays to be slashed to FOUR WEEKS to help ease costly pressure of keeping kids off school
Some 62 percent of teachers are on board with trimming the holiday GIVE ME A BREAK Parents call for summer holidays to be slashed to FOUR WEEKS to help ease costly pressure of keeping kids off school Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FED-UP parents are begging for summer holiday to be slashed to four weeks to lighten the load of childcare over summer. More than half of parents would back a shorter break, a poll by charity Parentkind has revealed. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Parents are demanding a shorter summer holiday for kids Credit: Getty 3 The price and pressure of finding childcare for six weeks has led to families to complain about the long break Credit: Getty 3 A poll found over 50 per cent of parents want a shorter summer holiday Credit: Getty The call to cut the holiday comes just as state schools in England prepare to break up, leaving parents bracing for six weeks with the kids at home. Chief executive of the charity Jason Elsom said: 'The long summer break is a challenge for some parents. "Most want to knock two weeks off to give teachers and children a month off instead.' Parents say the long summer causes serious headaches and that they struggle with trying to finding cover at work and attempting to keep children entertained. Elsom added: 'A shorter summer holiday would help with costs and childcare, which would be particularly welcome at a time when some families are struggling to keep their heads above water.' Parentkind's survey found 53 per cent of parents support cutting the break to four weeks, while just 33 per cent are against it. Among parents of kids on free school meals, the support jumps to 47 per cent, showing a strong link between holiday length and financial pressure in the household. Parentkind says some low-income families have told them they've even skipped meals during term time to cover school costs. Many families said they'd prefer longer Christmas breaks or two-week half-terms instead of the long summer slog. Teachers are also on board, with 62 per cent saying they'd accept a shorter summer. Nearly a quarter of teachers back a straight four-week summer, while 38 per cent favour trimming it to five. There's going to be uproar at my kids' school thanks to new mobile phone rule - they'll no longer be safe, I'm outraged Only a third still want to keep the traditional six-week break. Private schools already have a longer break, with pupils getting from eight to nine weeks form early July to early September. Some even stretch to up to 10 weeks, depending on the school. In Ireland, students also get long summer holidays the length of summer holidays varies slightly between primary and secondary schools. Irish primary schools typically have nine weeks of summer holidays whereas secondary schools enjoy a whopping 12 weeks. Across the Chanel, France has an average school summer holiday of eight weeks, siimilar to the UK. However Italy veers closer to Ireland, giving students 11 to 12 weeks off school from early June–mid September. In Germany it varies state by state, but on average pupils have a six week break. However childcare costs in the UK in summer are almost three times higher than after-school clubs, now averaging £179 per child per week, according to charity Coram. Experts have also raised concerns that children regress academically over long holidays, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Elsom warned that for struggling households, a six-week break can feel 'more like survival than a holiday'. The government is under pressure to rethink the school calendar, with Parentkind calling for a full national debate on how holidays are spread through the year. The idea of two-week half-terms is gaining traction among both schools and parents. Some UK schools have already trialled shorter summers and longer mid-term breaks, with mixed responses. In Wales, a plan to shorten the summer holiday by a week and expand the October half-term was put forward in 2022. It was shelved after consultation responses were sharply split among teachers, parents and unions. However childcare prices rising and many parents at breaking point, pressure is mounting for England to rethink the six-week summer. The Sun has reached out to the Department of Education for a comment.
The Sun
7 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Parents call for summer holidays to be slashed to FOUR WEEKS to help ease costly pressure of keeping kids off school
FED-UP parents are begging for summer holiday to be slashed to four weeks to lighten the load of childcare over summer. More than half of parents would back a shorter break, a poll by charity Parentkind has revealed. 3 3 The call to cut the holiday comes just as state schools in England prepare to break up, leaving parents bracing for six weeks with the kids at home. Chief executive of the charity Jason Elsom said: 'The long summer break is a challenge for some parents. "Most want to knock two weeks off to give teachers and children a month off instead.' Parents say the long summer causes serious headaches and that they struggle with trying to finding cover at work and attempting to keep children entertained. Elsom added: 'A shorter summer holiday would help with costs and childcare, which would be particularly welcome at a time when some families are struggling to keep their heads above water.' Parentkind's survey found 53 per cent of parents support cutting the break to four weeks, while just 33 per cent are against it. Among parents of kids on free school meals, the support jumps to 47 per cent, showing a strong link between holiday length and financial pressure in the household. Parentkind says some low-income families have told them they've even skipped meals during term time to cover school costs. Many families said they'd prefer longer Christmas breaks or two-week half-terms instead of the long summer slog. Teachers are also on board, with 62 per cent saying they'd accept a shorter summer. Nearly a quarter of teachers back a straight four-week summer, while 38 per cent favour trimming it to five. There's going to be uproar at my kids' school thanks to new mobile phone rule - they'll no longer be safe, I'm outraged Only a third still want to keep the traditional six-week break. Private schools already have a longer break, with pupils getting from eight to nine weeks form early July to early September. Some even stretch to up to 10 weeks, depending on the school. In Ireland, students also get long summer holidays the length of summer holidays varies slightly between primary and secondary schools. Irish primary schools typically have nine weeks of summer holidays whereas secondary schools enjoy a whopping 12 weeks. Across the Chanel, France has an average school summer holiday of eight weeks, siimilar to the UK. However Italy veers closer to Ireland, giving students 11 to 12 weeks off school from early June–mid September. In Germany it varies state by state, but on average pupils have a six week break. However childcare costs in the UK in summer are almost three times higher than after-school clubs, now averaging £179 per child per week, according to charity Coram. Experts have also raised concerns that children regress academically over long holidays, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Elsom warned that for struggling households, a six-week break can feel 'more like survival than a holiday'. The government is under pressure to rethink the school calendar, with Parentkind calling for a full national debate on how holidays are spread through the year. The idea of two-week half-terms is gaining traction among both schools and parents. Some UK schools have already trialled shorter summers and longer mid-term breaks, with mixed responses. In Wales, a plan to shorten the summer holiday by a week and expand the October half-term was put forward in 2022. It was shelved after consultation responses were sharply split among teachers, parents and unions. However childcare prices rising and many parents at breaking point, pressure is mounting for England to rethink the six-week summer. The Sun has reached out to the Department of Education for a comment.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Children to be taught anti-misogyny in sex education classes
Recognising misogyny, the harms caused by so-called "deepfakes" and unhealthy attitudes towards consent will be taught in sex education classes under new government guidance for will be taught "how to identify and learn from positive male role models", according to parts of the final draft of the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) guidance seen exclusively by the in England should also "proactively" engage with parents to make sure they are aware of what is being taught, the guidance will say. But plans to impose age limits on certain subject areas, proposed by the previous Conservative government just before last year's election, will not go ahead. That earlier draft guidance had suggested sex education should not be taught before Year 5, while topics like sexual harassment and pornography should not be taught before Year the government will outline areas that should be introduced in primary school and what students should learn about by the end of secondary school in the final draft of its guidance, due to be published later Department for Education (DfE) says it will mean children don't get taught things they are too young for, without assigning specific ages to each individual will have the right to view all of their school's RSHE curriculum materials, which the charity Parentkind has welcomed. Frank Young, from the charity, says it's important that teachers consult with parents first to understand what is age appropriate for their child "so that we put parents in the driving seat".The new guidance, which schools will take on from this autumn, will come into full legal force from September 2026. It will say primary schools must cover respectful relationships, boundaries, and the risks of sharing information and images it is expected to recommend that conception, birth and puberty is taught in Year 5 or Year 6 - but this is not school teachers may also decide to discuss the sharing of naked images or online sexual content if it is affecting pupils in the school, or if they are aware students have seen pornography, under the new guidance. By the end of secondary school, students should be taught how to keep themselves and others safe, including how to avoid sexually transmitted infections and unplanned in the secondary school curriculum are expected to include lessons on:The sexual norms endorsed by so-called "involuntary celibates" (incels) or online influencersAI-generated sexual imagery and deepfakesHow pornography links to misogynySexual ethics beyond consent and the awareness of power dynamics The guidance will advise secondary schools to work closely with mental health professionals on how to discuss suicide prevention in an age-appropriate Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen, the founders of Three Dads Walking who each lost a daughter to suicide, have welcomed its inclusion, saying it will "save lives".RSHE became compulsory in schools in England in pupils must take part in relationships education, which doesn't involve explaining the detail of different forms of sexual activity, but can cover sensitive topics such as sexual violence in order to keep children have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education, but students can choose to opt back in from three terms before they turn 16. The government is expected to release its separate guidance for schools around children who are gender-questioning the RSHE guidance, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the behaviour and attitudes of boys and young men "is one of the challenges facing us today".Schools and parents have a vital role to play in "helping children identify positive role models and resist the manipulation too often used online to groom impressionable young minds," she added. At Benton Park School in Leeds, head teacher Nik Skilton says teachers have to be "really careful" when it comes to talking to students about inappropriate online content, so that they don't highlight something to young people that they aren't already being exposed to."But, on the flip side, we've also got to make sure that we are supporting young people to protect themselves," he Skilton says schools need some flexibility in how they approach these topics, because each school has different issues to deal RSHE guidance will encourage schools to build a more positive culture, making staff and pupils aware of the danger of stereotypes and prejudice. Benton Park School has reported a decrease in the number of students experiencing sexual harassment in school since it adopted a whole-school approach to tackling such one of the student ambassadors at the school, believes social media is fuelling sexism and sexual harassment because "they appear so much on everyone's pages, on their phones, that they think it's normalised".She says it has become a lot easier to "call it out" because of the skills the school has given Karman agrees, saying she now feels like she has a voice to say: "This is not okay".
