Leicestershire Councils Propose School Term Date Changes

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is Corey with a story with Lester News today. Lestershire County Council and Lester City Council are proposing big changes to school term dates. Their preferred plan would shorten the summer break so schools in just one week earlier than most areas in England, instead of the usual two weeks. Ahead, this shift would run from autumn 2027 through summer 2032. The traditional early finish, known locally as the Lestershire Fortnight, has let family snag cheaper summer holidays. Now, officials favor extending the autumn half term break by a full week while keeping other timings mostly the same. Education leaders like interim director Tim Brown say the changes aim to balance family life with better learning outcomes. Long summer breaks bring more child protection concerns and bigger learning dips for kids. Plus, the drawn out autumn term leaves children tired and prone to illness. Brown knows the plan still gives families an edge on early summer trips compared to other counties. It also opens up affordable autumn getaways

1:04with the longer half term. He stresses it's not just a local issue, child welfare challenges happen nationwide. Both councils are running consultations from April 20th to May 31st, mainly through an online survey. They're in listening mode, open to feedback on this option or sticking with the old ways to find what truly works for families and schools. A message from our sponsor supports today's story. What is cooler than cool? A pillow that plays your sound. S-o-l-l-i-soli pillow dot com. Made in AI.