School summer holidays could start one week earlier

The Reform UK-run Essex County Council is looking into bringing forward school summer holidays by one week in July, from 2029.

Sam Journet, education cabinet member, told a council meeting: "We are looking at taking the school holiday time out of sync with the current educational system."

Journet argued it would allow families to book cheaper holidays.

But Conservative opposition leader Lee Scott was "not convinced" bringing holidays forward would save parents money, adding: "My only concern is the companies will cotton on to it and raise their prices the week before. We will start the higher prices a week early."

The school dates are fixed for the next two years, so the earlier summer holiday would not come in until 2029, if approved.

Schoolchildren would still have six weeks off in the summer and would return to class the last week of August, Journet explained.

The county council can set the holiday dates for 127 out of the 552 schools in Essex.

However, the majority of schools in the county are academy trusts where they set their own holiday dates, although they are often similar to the local authority.

Parents who take their children out of school unauthorised for holidays face fines of at least £80. Repeated absence can lead to prosecution.

Rebecca Allerton, 33, from Castle Point, has taken her sons on holiday during term previously and said she had saved thousands of pounds, despite being fined.

The mum, who posts on social media as "The thirtyish mum", does not think bringing summer holidays forward by one week will make a big difference.

"In principle it is a lovely idea," she said. "But then I also think private schools have already been off by a week; it might not make much of a difference.

"I'm glad they are doing something; it is a very tricky subject."

"There are pros and cons to moving school holiday dates," Pepe Di'Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said.

"It is possible that shifting the start of the summer holiday a week earlier could mean cheaper holiday deals for families – though it is likely that prices would rise if other areas follow suit."

Di'Iasio called on the government "to reach an agreement with holiday companies to curb the excessively high prices which are charged during school holiday periods".

Reform county councillor Keiron McGill told a full council meeting about the fines parents received if they took their children out of school unauthorised for five days in a 10-week period.

"Kids get far more out of a week seeing the world than grimly hanging on to 100% attendance," he said.

He called on the council to allow five days of absences for children with over 95% school attendance.

Journet responded that would not be possible.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said the authority would "explore whether a change to the traditional pattern of the calendar is feasible".

They added: "For example, whether starting the summer holiday period one week earlier than normal could enable parents to secure a family holiday at a more affordable price.

"No decisions have yet been made in this regard. If any substantial change to the usual arrangements is proposed, we will consult with relevant stakeholders, including schools and parents."

The consultation is expected to begin in January.

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