Summer holidays could be cut down to five weeks for Doncaster school children

Education bosses at DMBC (Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council) are considering changing the duration of certain breaks throughout the school year and want parents to have their say on four possible options.

One of the more radical options is children having five weeks in the Summer and two weeks instead of one in October.

The changes would come into play for the 2021-22 school holidays.

Option 1 - Stay the same

With this option, the existing school holiday pattern would stay the same with the following school closures:

October half term - 1 week

Christmas break - 2 weeks

February half term - 1 week

Easter break - 2 weeks

May half term - 1 week

Summer break - 6 weeks

Option 2 - Fixed Easter break

October half term - 1 week

Christmas break - 2 weeks

February half term - 1 week

Easter break - 2 weeks - This would be fixed and always fall on the first two weeks of April regardless of where the Easter holiday falls

May half term - 1 week

Summer break - 6 weeks

Option 3 - Shorter summer holiday breaking up in late July, two weeks off in October and fixed Easter dates

October half term - 2 weeks

Christmas break - 2 weeks

February half term - 1 week

Easter break - 2 weeks - This would always fall in the first two weeks of April regardless of where the Easter holiday falls

May half term - 1 week

Summer break - 5 weeks - Schools would break up a week later than usual in July

Option 4 - Five week summer break with children returning to school in late August, two weeks off in October and fixed Easter dates

October half term - 2 weeks

Christmas break - 2 weeks

February half term - 1 week

Easter break - 2 weeks - this would always fall in the first two weeks of April regardless of where the Easter holiday falls

May half term - 1 week

Summer break - 5 weeks - schools would return a week earlier, in August.

A council spokesman said: “There are lots of reasons to look at changing our school holiday patterns, and we know that for parents this is an incredibly important issue.

“We are looking for the views of parents/guardians, schools and others to help us choose the right school holiday pattern for Doncaster.

“These changes will affect the 33 schools we are currently responsible for, but Academies and Church Schools who set their own school holiday pattern, are encouraged to use the same one.”

The survey window closes on March 13, 2020.

To take part in the survey, click here.