school half-term

[chirpychirpy]

is half-term this term on the week beginning Oct 18th or the week after? P

[annie0000]

Depends where you live, I'm in Stirling and ours is next week together with Glasgow, Falkirk, Clackmannan and some others, Edinburgh and Borders are the next week, Perthshire northwards get both weeks and down South I believe theirs doesn't start until last week of October.

[askyourgran]

My granddaughters holiday is around about the 22 October she lives in Bucks.

[boxtops]

It's different in all different parts of the country

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps ask the school.

Have they got a website, newsletter or homework diary with the info in?

[micmak]

I thought they had just gone back after the summer.

[annie0000]

feels like that mikmak - ours have ben back since 17 August so about 8 weeks - the have also managed to have a long weekend in that time and they have 3 days off in November too - then 2 weeks at Christmas - then they have to wait until February before another week off......and the rest!!

[poodicat]

Does anyone else think that children have far too many school holidays,wonder what its like in other european countries..

[sherrardk]

Poodicat - they are only children, I think the amount of holidays is just right. A week off every seven/eight weeks and then a slightly longer break for Christmas and Easter with the lovely long summer holidays.

[sophie_1003]

They have longer holidays poodi, think it's 9 weeks summer holiday in France (although not sure on half term holidays!)

[redcrx]

the summer holidays seem a lot shorter than they used to be. I recall ours being 10 weeks in the 70s / 80s

[sophie_1003]

Also agree with sherrard! Made me so angry to read the papers the other week about how summer holidays should be shorter because children from low socio-economic backgrounds fall behind too much; yes they do but that's because they're the ones out playing being children!!

[redcrx]

sorry chirpy, you should be able to google for your answer by searching for your county and school term times.

Ours in Suffolk have a PD day on 22nd and then the following week off, going back on the 1st

[sherrardk]

As an ex-teacher (16 years) I must stick up for the teachers too. If it wasn't for the holidays there would be a lot more absences from teaching staff (it is not the bed of roses that a lot of people think).

[poodicat]

Sherrard some children are 17,18,19 even..

[sherrardk]

Yes, and some are 4 and 5 - can't have different school terms based on age.

[poodicat]

Why not?

[sherrardk]

Not meaning to be rude, but do you have any idea of the logistical nightmare that would be? The staff would not be utilised to full capactity (and their contracts would have to be changed - good luck with that). What's wrong with them having the holidays that they do have until they have to enter the 'real' world?

[sophie_1003]

Because imagine if you had 3 children aged 4, 11 and 15 would be manic trying to get a family holiday!

[Buenchico]

As others have indicated, school term dates vary across the country.

Here in Suffolk half-term is the week beginning 25th October. To find the date for your area, google the name of the relevant education authority together with 'term dates'. (e.g. 'Suffolk term dates', 'Hillingdon term dates or 'Southampton term dates'). If you're unsure of the name of your local education authority, look through the list here:
http://en.wikipedia.o...l_education_authority

Even when you've found the dates from the education authority website you need to be aware that there might be an extra day or two added on to either end of the holiday period. That's because each school has to allocate 5 in-service training days each year, where the pupils don't attend but the staff do. In some areas groups of schools (such as a secondary school and its main feeder schools) all have the same 'INSET' days. In other areas every school is different. If the school has its own website that should be regarded as the most reliable source of information.

Chris

[sherrardk]

Hi Sophie - just take them out in term time (it's cheaper)!