Heatwave now, but what’s the betting…?

I think I'd rather cope with that than this red alert heat!!

I always feel for parents when schools break up and the weather turns.
It’s so expensive to entertain children, day trips etc.
The alternative is to go abroad but temperatures are really to high in July and August.
The school holidays need to be revised
The October and May half terms could be lengthened and the the traditional 6 weeks reduced to 4.

That's a really good idea Sago.

Grannybags

I think I'd rather cope with that than this red alert heat!!

Me too.
We are in London in the red alert zone.
A kindly neighbour just dropped a bag of ice cubes and ice lollies off, he had several bags.
And I agree with Sago the summer hols are way too long and originally were made so long in order for the children of farmers to help out in the fields. I don’t that is relevant now.
As an erstwhile teacher you would think I would be in favour of a longer holiday but seeing as we had school age children, like many other teachers, we still had to keep our own kids entertained and occupied for 6 long weeks.

Sago

I always feel for parents when schools break up and the weather turns.
It’s so expensive to entertain children, day trips etc.
The alternative is to go abroad but temperatures are really to high in July and August.
The school holidays need to be revised
The October and May half terms could be lengthened and the the traditional 6 weeks reduced to 4.

this has been mooted for as long as I can remember,
with children at school from the early eighties

my son had 10 weeks through the summer, with not
even homework, a project, access to the school facilities
or extensive grounds for any reason
it was difficult when he was 12/13/14 too young to work
and earn his own money, until he was 15/16 and worked
at a large famous plant nurseries in all weathers, for a
small wage throuh the summer, but he cycled there,
it beefed him up, money to go out with, opened his own
BS account, took a loaf and a half of sandwiches, fruit, drinks.

I well remember the extra cost of feeding three biguns
who would normally dine at school for what seemed at
the time to be a nominal sum

getting into gear in October and the extended journey
to school for my son took weeks to adjust to the routine,
a long working day, even though he was fit and healthy
an adjustment nevertheless

6 weeks is too long, 4 weeks should be enough - mine slept
for the first week anyway

yes definitely extended May and October weeks, when the weather is invariably balmy

Methinks it’ll be next week! Wet Wimbledon!

I couldn’t agree more. For young children 6 weeks is a very long time not to be in school, older ones get bored, from a working mum perspective 6 weeks childcare is expensive all in one hit.

My true view, start school days earlier, end earlier, and split into 4 terms with equal amount of holidays at the end of each term and no half terms.

Witzend

…that it’ll turn cool and rainy once the school summer holidays start?
Judging from previous form, that is.

this weather is a fluke
rain will be most welcome

The summer holidays do seem to be grey and wet much of the time which makes life difficult for parents. I remember having to spend a lot of money on cinema, swimming pools and other indoor activities with three needing entertainment.

Cossy, yes indeed, start schooldays earlier, this means
parents will possibly be able to drop younger children
to school whilst on their way to work

My grandaughter age 14, in a hot country, starts at 7.50 although they are expected to be in the yard by 7.40,
parents then continue on to their place of work
School finishes at 2pm
although many pupils linger and ‘hang out’ finish
homework in company, waiting to be picked up

now completed end of term exams she is at
home until 1 September
she will have forgotten everything she knew by then

last year? or possibly the year before, the way dates fell,
her school had 3 ! whole weeks holiday over Christmas
and New Year, too long a time, missing her schoolfriends

The only thing that got me through school was the thought of six weeks summer holiday. Six weeks when I didn't have to go there and try to fit in with all the other children.