The summer holidays are nearly here, and with them the chance for children and teachers to truly relax after a long academic year. It also means parents are scrambling to make sure that they have childcare arrangements in hand, and checking that they are covered for the extra expense which comes with having their children at home for six weeks.
Many of us look back fondly on the long summer breaks of our youth. But as more and more teachers leave the profession citing burnout, and the cost of living and inflexible working conditions make things harder for parents, the wisdom of keeping the traditional break is less clear.
So, should we get rid of the six-week summer holiday? Teacher Nadeine Asbali, father James Dixon and education academic Lee Elliot Major give their perspectives.
The same debate seems to rear its head at the beginning of every summer – and for many parents, the same panic. The summer holidays are just around the corner; parents are staring at their calendars in despair, and the idea that six weeks off school is simply too much bubbles to the surface.
It’s an understandable position. We certainly find it a bit of a squeeze in our household. Modern family life can in general feel like an elaborate logistical exercise, especially for those parents with full-time, nine-to-five jobs. We spend our time trading in annual leave, holiday clubs, favours from grandparents, and whatever other childcare options we can find to make things work.
