Majority Back Four-Week Summer School Holidays

A majority of parents and teachers in England—53-62% according to recent polls—support reducing the traditional six-week summer holiday to four weeks, mainly due to financial and childcare pressures, especially among low-income families. Support is highest among families with children eligible for free school meals. Many favor redistributing the lost days to longer half-term or Christmas breaks. The average summer childcare cost exceeds £1,000 per child, highlighting economic pressures on families. Critics argue that shorter summer holidays could lower educational standards and complicate childcare during redistributed breaks. The debate has prompted calls for a national review of the school holiday calendar to balance family welfare and educational outcomes.