Increased School Holidays Pose Concerns for Working Parents in England.
A growing number of schools across England are now offering their students two weeks of paid holiday instead of just one week, sparking debate over its impact on working parents and childcare costs. The change has been adopted by several councils, including Nottinghamshire county council, and is set to be introduced at a number of schools this year.
The introduction of longer school holidays could be beneficial for families who want to take breaks throughout the year rather than having all their time off in one long period. According to Rebecca Horne of Pregnant Then Screwed, an extended October break would allow parents to "break up" their holiday seasons instead of twisting themselves into knots trying to find time off.
However, some parents are expressing concerns over the increased cost of childcare during half-term holidays. Figures show that a week's worth of holiday childcare can be expensive, with Coram estimating costs at £179 for just one day.
Sebrina McCullough from Money Wellness believes that the additional time off will have a negative impact on low-income households who struggle to afford the extra expenses. "We see increasing stress among single parents and those working zero-hour or shift-based jobs, who have very little flexibility," she says.
The Department for Education has welcomed improved attendance levels since introducing two-week holidays at some schools. The charity Parentkind found that almost half of parents supported a longer school break, with 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent in the past year.
However, experts warn that tour operators may increase prices if more schools adopt the policy, making it harder for families to find affordable holiday options during peak periods. Paul Scott from My Budget Break notes that while short-term benefits might be seen, "the prices are sure to creep up either side of the week."
As debates over extended school holidays continue, one thing is clear - the introduction of longer breaks could have a significant impact on working parents and families across England.
A growing number of schools across England are now offering their students two weeks of paid holiday instead of just one week, sparking debate over its impact on working parents and childcare costs. The change has been adopted by several councils, including Nottinghamshire county council, and is set to be introduced at a number of schools this year.
The introduction of longer school holidays could be beneficial for families who want to take breaks throughout the year rather than having all their time off in one long period. According to Rebecca Horne of Pregnant Then Screwed, an extended October break would allow parents to "break up" their holiday seasons instead of twisting themselves into knots trying to find time off.
However, some parents are expressing concerns over the increased cost of childcare during half-term holidays. Figures show that a week's worth of holiday childcare can be expensive, with Coram estimating costs at £179 for just one day.
Sebrina McCullough from Money Wellness believes that the additional time off will have a negative impact on low-income households who struggle to afford the extra expenses. "We see increasing stress among single parents and those working zero-hour or shift-based jobs, who have very little flexibility," she says.
The Department for Education has welcomed improved attendance levels since introducing two-week holidays at some schools. The charity Parentkind found that almost half of parents supported a longer school break, with 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent in the past year.
However, experts warn that tour operators may increase prices if more schools adopt the policy, making it harder for families to find affordable holiday options during peak periods. Paul Scott from My Budget Break notes that while short-term benefits might be seen, "the prices are sure to creep up either side of the week."
As debates over extended school holidays continue, one thing is clear - the introduction of longer breaks could have a significant impact on working parents and families across England.
. Sure, it's great for families who want to break up their holiday seasons, but what about those who can't afford the extra childcare costs? £179 per day? That's like asking if you're made of money 
. And what about low-income households struggling to make ends meet? The stress on single parents and zero-hour workers is already high enough without having to worry about top-up childcare fees 
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. We need a more thoughtful approach to this one 
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. Like, can you imagine having more time to relax and recharge with your little ones? But at the same time, I'm also super worried about how this is gonna affect low-income households 
. £179 for one day of holiday childcare? That's just crazy expensive! 
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. We need to think about how this policy is gonna affect the most vulnerable folks and what we can do to support them 
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I'm totes down for it! 
My little one's school already has this policy and we've had an amazing time exploring London together during the summer break. It's a total game changer for us! 
We can finally take that dream family vacation or just spend quality time together without stressing about finding childcare. I feel like it's about time we gave parents a bit more flexibility, ya know? 
The extra cost of childcare is probs gonna be a thing, but like, who doesn't love a good bargain? 
. Plus, attendance levels have actually improved since introducing two-week holidays at some schools 
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. We know what's going on here, and we're not afraid of a little extra planning ahead 
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A week's worth of holiday costs can add up quick, especially when you've got two kids and one parent is working part-time. I'm all for more breaks throughout the year, but how are low-income families supposed to cope with the added costs? 
And honestly, I don't blame the tour operators for trying to capitalize on it. If more schools start giving out paid holidays, it's just gonna make things even harder for families who are already on a tight budget. We need some kind of support system in place for these low-income households or else they're just gonna get left behind. 
. i mean, £179 for ONE day of childcare? that's not a break, that's a huge bill 
, like parents were planning their vacations around school schedules anyway. And another thing, who needs two weeks off in October? It's already the middle of the year, can't they just take one long break at Christmas or something?
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. By engaging with parents, experts, and community leaders, we can work towards creating policies that balance the needs of families with the economic realities of our society 
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