Barnet schools face childcare challenges with extended half term

An increasing number of state schools across England are extending their October half term to two weeks, a move that is creating significant childcare challenges for parents and raising concerns about a fragmented system. This shift, primarily driven by academies which are independent of local council control, risks creating a 'postcode lottery' for families, particularly those with children attending different schools with varying holiday schedules.

Growing Trend in Extended Breaks

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A recent survey of 8,112 state school teachers in England found that 15% reported having a two-week October half term this year. This figure represents a notable increase from 12% last year and 7% in 2023, according to figures shared with the Press Association. While the majority of council-run schools maintain a one-week half term, the growing number of academies setting their own term dates has accelerated the exploration of extended autumn breaks.

The rationale behind the extended break, according to school leaders, is to provide teachers and pupils with more time to 'rest and reset' during a long and demanding autumn term. Some schools that have made the switch have reported reductions in pupil absence and staff illness. For instance, Anthem Schools Trust, which operates 15 schools, has introduced a two-week October half term across its entire network. David Hatchett, chief executive of the trust, stated that feedback from one of its south London schools indicated better staff attendance and that the extended holiday was 'critical to keeping concentration and energy levels up' among staff and pupils.

Parental Concerns and Childcare Costs

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However, the extended break presents logistical concerns for working parents. Lydia Hodges, head of the Coram Family and Childcare charity, highlighted that holiday childcare costs an average of £191 per week in Great Britain, which is a substantial expense for many families. She noted that finding suitable childcare can be difficult, as many holiday clubs may not operate during the half term. If schools compensate for the longer break by extending school days throughout the term, this can result in an additional week of childcare costs annually for parents.

Professor Lee Elliot Major, a professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, has called on the Government to initiate a 'nationally co-ordinated programme of trials' to assess the benefits of the extended break. He warned that without a wider strategy, the system risks becoming more fragmented, leading to a 'postcode lottery' where families with children in neighbouring schools operating different holiday dates face significant challenges in managing childcare and work commitments.

Some local authorities, including Nottinghamshire and Bromley, have opted to shorten their summer holidays to accommodate a two-week October break. This approach aims to balance the extended autumn holiday without increasing the overall time children are out of school. The Department for Education has stated that while minimum school opening days are stipulated, local leaders and schools have the flexibility to set term and holiday dates based on the interests of pupils and parents.

What Happens Next

It is unclear if Barnet Council schools will adopt a two-week October half term. The Department for Education has granted flexibility to local authorities and schools to set their own term dates. Parents and residents concerned about school holiday patterns can contact their local school or academy trust directly for information on their specific term dates and policies.