“Go on then, I'll bite. Why is this racist?”

“because these communities have families in India, Pakistan, Jamaica, Lithuania etc who they need to visit and they need the 6 week holiday to do this.
So the reduction from 6 to 4 weeks is an attack on these communities based on the fact that they are of non- English ethnicity”

“the only reason they had six weeks holiday in the past is so the children could help with the havest look up your history it is a out dated way of doing things for all us that that have to work it will make things easier and also we could maybeget a holiday that is a bit cheaper instead of having to take the children out of school bout time you stopped crying racism to get what you want !¬!!!!!”

“no it'll be more expensive to take holidays as the breaks will be shorter and main harvest time was/is in September and October. Don't swallow the NCC lies”

“Erm.....I have family abroad and would welcome the change. I am fed up of paying extra in the school holidays for airflights. Would also be happy to discuss the so called "really good educational reasons for opposing the changes".”

“acual it is bad for children to be off for such a long period of time they get bored and there mind goes to mush and i have a thompson brosure here that begs to differ with you about prices !!!”

“and the holidays were actual set in edwardian time with the euopeian harvest in mind !!!!”

“Gingerninja, you are right that it is bad for kids to be off for such a long period of time. Not sure about Thomsons though...they do package holidays in the main!”

“thx jr068 think this will be best for all school children and as parents we dont have the luxury of sending our children away for six weeks we have to relay on family or pay through the nose for childminders to be honest wish i could afford to have a holiday abroad anyway !!!!”

“Perhaps you should start by discussing the educational pros and cons of the proposal rather than launching straight into a bizarre cocktail of conspiracy theory and accusations of racism, with the educational issues as an afterthought.

After all, I thought the point of school was to educate.”

“Interesting point, am I the only one that has noticed that the Evening Post has moved from being a newspaper to a views paper, and in doing so has attracted articles such as this? Shame on me though...I rose to the debate!”

“So kids forget everything they've learned over a school year after six-week summer holidays? Right. Don't four-week breaks have the same effect? Maybe we should cut school holidays down to two weeks, or one, or even just a weekend and keep kids in school five days a week fifty-two weeks a year? Given how poor Nottingham schools are and the level of truancy/unauthorised absence from schools (which are in any case among the poorest in the country) changing the holidays is an irrelevance, re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.

What does the Nottingham City Council know about the functioning of children's memories that no-one else appears to? More importantly what is NCC up to now? How do the NCC commissars account for the fact that the highest-achieving schools in the country are mainly independent ones, often boarding, which have longer holidays than any other schools?”

“Lets be honest here. A lot of people see racism in things that are not racist. Anyway, I think the original posting is just a wind up to get a reaction and it has worked.
Besides, isn't it still racist if you only cater for one section of society to the detriment of another section regardless of which race they belong to?
If the system (i.e. schooling) is broken it does need fixing and open and honest debate is the way, but without all the bile some people spew out.”

“Tut-tut-tut. Some peeps could detect racism on a zebra crossing.”

“well done Ayoop, you've seen through me. yes I am quite sure that the last thing that a left wing politically correct socialist council would want, is to be racist.
i find it strange that gingerninja can have free child care for 4 week and 2 week holidays but not for 6 weeks (the school holiday total will remain the same).
the flight prices will be at their peak in the 4 weeks in July & August that NCC is giving, out of the rest of the country's six. Admittedly you will be able to take your children away for 2 weeks in May - Skegness can be warmer and dryer in May than in August and in the Costa del Sol temperatures can reach 20 or even 22 degrees. For the rich it makes no difference as Public schools generally have an 8 week summer break and somehow their pupils outperform state school children. the rich also can fly to the Seychelles for a week in April or May.
Of course the rest of the country will still have the same exam schedule and quite probably children will be required to sit exams in the Nottingham school holidays in May and June.
Almost all the other education authorities and educational experts are pointing towards a 6 term year with a 6 week summer holiday and a fixed date for the easter break regardless of the date traditionally set by the churches.
Forget the myth about harvest time . The school holidays were originally linked to the University and then to public school holidays and take place in (in theory) the hottest months of the year which in our non air conditioned schools will be hell for children to work in.
have any of you experts memories of being stuffed into blazers and and ties in hot weather in a stuffy classroom and being expected to learn”

“Let's perhaps get back to what the right educational and social outcome is here. Whilst I understand the argument for the 4 week holiday I am concerned that there will (I believe) no longer be any half term breaks so the kids will do 8 weeks solid without a break. My kids are already flagging when they have long half terms at times (i.e. 6 weeks) so not sure how they will cope with regular 8 week with no breaks. Also if (like me) you have some in county schools and some in city then this will play havoc with family life.

This seems ill thought through and does not seem to be based on any serious science.”

“You're right Jona - which is why other Local Authorities are moving to the 6 term model which will give 6 terms of no longer than 7 weeks which is the average length of the current half terms. The present system does result in some half terms being over 8 weeks long”

“hahah what a load of Rubbish. if anything it helps parents. 2 weeks less to find somehow of getting your kids looked after . It amuses me what rubbish these lefties come up with.

how about having a 4 week holiday abroad rather than a 6 week one?!

be realistic , school terms are to suit the kids eucation best, not about providing them with the longest holidays abroad”

“dear chinter
education has a 'd' in it. The 8 week terms proposed by NCC are far too long for the children to sustain interest.
The lefties are the ones proposing the 5 term year
The righties are opposing it. Pick your side with care!
The total length of school holidays will remain the same over the year. You will have to look after your children for exactly the same amount of time whether there is a 3 term, 5 term or 6 term school year.
Currently lots of teachers and teaching assistants give some of their 6 week holiday to provide holiday clubs for children. This will stop if there is only a 4 week break.
The 4 week break proposed by NCC is in the peak summer holiday time for areas with a 6 week holiday . Nottingham families will have less holiday choice and more expensive holidays
Educationally and socially this is a disaster for children and parents but it will be railroaded through as Nottingham City Council is a one party council with no possibility of being voted out of office ever”

“Why do the council want to control everything that walks, talks, or breathes in Nottingham? What possible justification can they give for wanting to change school holidays? The rest of the country see no reason to change - so why just Nottingham.
Another nail in the coffin for our once great City. With the WPL looming, nobody will want to work in the city. With silly changes to holidays, nobody will want their children educated in the city. Soon to be followed by 'nobody will want to live in the city'. What a dump the city is fast becoming. masterminded by the socialist utopia, control freak, no brain cells city council.”

“i think you will find i said that the holidays will be the same amount of days just spread out different and nowhere did i say i get free child care either because i dont i book my annual leave in the holiday and also have a great partner and great parents so jonruben you want to acual try reading propley before going off on 1 !!!!!!!”

“I urge anyone with an opinion on this, be it for or against this proposal to make their voices heard by responding to the consultation so NCC has to consider your views, this is much more pro active than merely putting them up on these message boards,

if the consultation finds there is a general consensus amongst the people of Nottingham that they reject these propopsals it will be difficult for NCC to ignore this.

Send your views to: SOT@nottinghamcity.gov.uk”

“wat a load of bull **** council s c um, lyin *******s.”

“Why is this racist jonruben? Talk about inciting hatred. Get a life!”

“This is highly amusing!! They have been talking about doing this since i was at school nearly 12 years ago. But from reading this people do like to wrap their children in cotton wool! If a school term is eight weeks they will survive and not collapse of exhaustion because it will become the norm! Also it will prepare them for the big wide world where you are lucky to get 6 weeks holiday a year. I cannot remember thinking oh school is so tiring when i was 11 years old you just got on with it and your parent just let you!!!”

“Nottingham City Council are racist? Brilliant!”

“if we give them 6 weeks to go back to the carribean or eastern europe, do you think theyd be so kind as to stay there?

i can troll too”

“This is stupid calling our country racist!! We have to change our children nursury rhymes because it was racist!! This is stupid, if they want to see their families then they go for the 4 weeks if that is unstatisfactory to them then they go back perminately, quite simple!! How can our country be racist when we actually let ethnics over here to live and claim?? You don't realise how utterly stupid you have made yourself sounds!! And if you don't like this country for what it does, why don't you go as well. I very much doubt you will be missed after referring to this country as racist!!”

“Djanogly City Academy already run these holidays and have done for years (8 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 4 off in the summer) and its great for holidays at other times of the year, much cheaper, especially for holidays abroad. 6 weeks is too long for a summer break, kids get bored after 3 or 4 weeks and its too expensive for parents to either keep them entertained or pay someone to look after them.”

“AS YOU KNOW THE RACISM BIT was just to get people thinking about this new scheme. The last thing Nottingham CC could be described as, is racist!!!

I have been surprised how the line about cheaper holidays has been swallowed when the 4 week summer break is at the same time as all other areas (mid July to Mid August) and the other holidays will be 2 weeks in november, Christmas, early March and the end of May.

Academically, even older children flag at the end of 8 weeks and certainly at present when we have the occasional 8 week term it is very difficult for 7 and 8 year olds to cope. Djangology has such a high academic reputation doesn't it? In spite of the huge amount of money spent on it, the rest of the schools in Nottingham seem to do as well if not better.

The other points about exam dates, working in the hottest weather, holiday clubs, visiting separated parents and families in this country and abroad are still valid.

The better scheme (agreed to in principle by most councils and teachers in England already) is 6 terms of 6-7 weeks duration - keeping holidays much as they are but with a 2 week early summer break with just one week in February and April and 5-6 weeks in July and August. For any new scheme to work this is something to be done nationally.

Still from the replies, most people obviously feel that 4 weeks summer break and 8 week terms are best for them and their children. I think they will find how they have been hoodwinked when the new scheme comes into effect.

Go to nottinghamcity.gov.uk/terms to let NCC know how you feel.

I will not be making any further comments.”

“A 4 week holiday period would be so much better for me and my children, but only because I would actually get to see my 3 children!

Why must suggestions such as this always be about racism? Does that mean that NCC are being racist towards me by not reducing school holidays?

I work for the NHS and am only allowed to take 2 weeks of annual leave between the months of June - September, and even then I have to fight for the dates that I want and struggle to have 2 full weeks together!

During the school holidays, I only work to cover childcare costs! My wages don't actually stretch far enough to jet off to Pakistan or the Caribbean. Please remember that we're not all lucky enough to be living near family members and friends that are able to help juggle childcare! If holidays were reduced, I would be able to spend longer looking after my own children.”

“Don't no about anyone else but I am really fed up with people using the 'racist card' for every thing. Why is racist to change the school holidays? becausea small minority of the UK population will no longer be able to go visit relatives over sea's.
So is it not then being 'racist' to the majority of the UK population to NOT change the school holidays because all their relatives live here in the United Kingdom.
I too can use the 'racist card' problem is I will no doubt be called a racist because I'm white British.”

“what a load of bigoted rubbish, I do not believe in five terms for many reasons, but racism is not one of them, people with your bigoted views need to really look at their atitude to a multicultural society, all you are doing is fueling conspiracies i bet you believe in flying saucers as well”

“by Pete - Nottingham - BPnotts - since when has the City Council ever taken heed of public opinion? If Commissars Collins & Chapman say jump, the question becomes how high?”

“So if they reduce the holidays and so increase the number of weeks where is the money going to come from to pay the school staff for the extra work?

I am sure people who don't work in schools would not accept it if their employers cut their holidays. I don't work in a school but believe that reducing the holiday entitlement of staff without paying them extra is infringing their civil liberties. So we can put the racism idea to bed now.”

“for the sake of disadvantaged children,who havent the ability to be clever 4 weeks is to long.they'll forget what they have learnt and set them back even more.it;s about time school holidays were brought in line with adults working holidays,as much as possible.”

“As an Early Years Practitioner working in the Nottingham County (who I believe are also considering this scheme), and as a parent (of a child in a Derbyshire County Council school), I think the shorter Summer holidays are a bad idea.

Firstly, the number of Teachers, TA's, Early Years Practitioners who work in separate counties from their children is huge - everyone of those people will now be facing 2 weeks at home when the children are at school, then at work when the kids are off! It will be a nightmare! Many people chose education as a career choice so that they can be there for their children out of school times and not need to use outside childcare. Those families who are working parents have and will always have to pay childcare fees for 14 weeks of the year so what difference does it make whether its 6 together or 4 and 2?
As a parent - I love the Summer holidays, in a good weather year I get to spend lots of quality time outdoors (forget holidays - we enjoy the parks) having fun with my son, family days out, evening meal's in the garden, which in my opinion is just as valuable for a child's social & emotional wellbeing as being at school is for their intellectual growth. What benefit is more holidays in the winter months? - dark mornings, dark evenings, bad weather = sitting indoors & miserable families!
And how will this help the ever increasing childhood obesity problem we are facing in the UK? Children sitting inside, and not engaging in the same amount of quality physical activity that they can during the lovely July/August months.

For those who have talked about where the 6 weeks holidays stem back to, the point is, there have been 6 weeks holidays for as long as anyone can remember - what harm did it do us? Every fully grounded adult, with a good job, managing a sucessful life had 6 weeks holidays so where is the sudden belief that children suffer from the long period coming from?

I really hope Notts County or Derbyshire don't make this move, but if they do, the government needs to realise that splitting the Counties in this way will cause most educational workers a complete nightmare!! A system in one County needs to be across the whole country or it simply will not work!”

“As an Early Years Practitioner working in the Nottingham County (who I believe are also considering this scheme), and as a parent (of a child in a Derbyshire County Council school), I think the shorter Summer holidays are a bad idea.

Firstly, the number of Teachers, TA's, Early Years Practitioners who work in separate counties from their children is huge - everyone of those people will now be facing 2 weeks at home when the children are at school, then at work when the kids are off! It will be a nightmare! Many people chose education as a career choice so that they can be there for their children out of school times and not need to use outside childcare. Those families who are working parents have and will always have to pay childcare fees for 14 weeks of the year so what difference does it make whether its 6 together or 4 and 2?
As a parent - I love the Summer holidays, in a good weather year I get to spend lots of quality time outdoors (forget holidays - we enjoy the parks) having fun with my son, family days out, evening meal's in the garden, which in my opinion is just as valuable for a child's social & emotional wellbeing as being at school is for their intellectual growth. What benefit is more holidays in the winter months? - dark mornings, dark evenings, bad weather = sitting indoors & miserable families!
And how will this help the ever increasing childhood obesity problem we are facing in the UK? Children sitting inside, and not engaging in the same amount of quality physical activity that they can during the lovely July/August months.

For those who have talked about where the 6 weeks holidays stem back to, the point is, there have been 6 weeks holidays for as long as anyone can remember - what harm did it do us? Every fully grounded adult, with a good job, managing a sucessful life had 6 weeks holidays so where is the sudden belief that children suffer from the long period coming from?

I really hope Notts County or Derbyshire don't make this move, but if they do, the government needs to realise that splitting the Counties in this way will cause most educational workers a complete nightmare!! A system in one County needs to be across the whole country or it simply will not work!”

“If you really wanted to spend time with your children, you would work in the same county as your child goes to school to ensure you are off together. Lots of parents dont work in education and barely manage to get any of the holidays off with their children so if you still manage to spend half of each holiday together then you are doing well. We need to start looking after the majority, not the minority. Those working in education in different counties to their children should have considered this change may happen at some point but if they have to lose a few Weeks with their children, its still more time together than most families get. Then the majority of working parents who dont work on education and have the luxury of 195 working days, splitting holidays up may mean they get to see their kids for a change. If you have managed 6 Weeks solid with your children in the past then you did very well, I dont know many other employers that allow more than 2 Weeks off in one go and in many cases you have to compete with other parents to get the time off. What use is 6 Weeks off to those children whose parents have to work for nearly all that time?

Splitting the holidays is a great idea as 6 Weeks is too long to have off in one go. Children at school are constantly stimulated and expect the same attention and constant stream of activity at home or the get bored. I dont know any parent that manages to keep their children entertained and stimulated for 6 Weeks solid. Also, were forgetting that over the last few years our 'good' weather has come in April and may and weve then had lots of cool rainy weather. This makes it harder for parents to entertain kids and upsetting for kids who were looking forward to their 'summer' break. I had far more bbq's early on last year than during the 6 Weeks hols and all because of the weather.

And talking of racist......why is it racist to cut a summer holiday from 6 weeks to 4 and prevent people visitinf family for such long trips and yet its not racist to change the Easter holiday so it no longer coincides with Easter and yet England is a Christian country. We are giving up far too many things that made us English to suit people from other countries that have settled here. Why ahould we consider your holidays visiting family abroad, this is something for you to sort and if you dont like it, move 'home' permanently. We need to look after things that are important to us and our children and if others dont like it, dont move here, we're not the right country for you. We dont need 6 week breaks to visit family abroad so we aren't having it and if its messed your plans up, move somewhere that caters for your needs and perhaps back home. Sick of people coming here and seeing our ways and deciding that it doesnt work for them and expect us to change to suit you, whilst forgetting our own. We deserve to have our needs met as this is OUR country and we have not deserted our country to go elsewhere. If you need to visit home anx it means so much to you, why do you keep deserting it? You were born there so please stay. If qe have it better here, stay and change things at home, dont leave and come here to try and change us.

And anyone making our English people are being racist in circumstances like this, where you are a complete liar and your reasoning is farcical, shouls be deported asap along with all family and regardless of what their home country is like. You leave home because UK is better, rather than stay and change YOUR country, yet when we do things you disagree with, you dont leave again, you stay and moan. Well, in future, clear off home cos your sort that breed hatred and give us a name here for being racists should just go home because you are not AT ALL welcome.
But first and foremost, we should keep the things that are traditional to this country. No changing nursery rhymes, nativity for foreign celebrations and Easter holidays. We need to stay a Christian country, its our right.”