A mum-of-two whose son attends a school where the autumn half-term break has been extended by a week has said she will struggle to juggle her degree and childcare under new plans.

Unity School Partnership, which runs 34 schools in Suffolk, has announced it will be extending its autumn half-term break from October 28 to November 8.

The two-week half term was trialled last year and the trust said a second round of consultation, which was launched last month, saw 58% of parents in favour of a two-week break and 42% against the proposal.

Ellen Hall, a mum-of-two who is studying for a degree in early childhood studies at the University of Suffolk campus in Bury St Edmunds, said she would have to miss a week of learning to care for her son Harry, six, who attends Westfield Primary Academy in Haverhill. 

"Normally my reading week falls in place on the first week Harry will be off and when we go back we get into something meaty straight away," she said.

"Last year when they first did the two week thing I missed the whole first week back so I could look after Harry.

"Essentially it leaves me behind and, while I can catch up online and my tutors are understanding, obviously I don't get valuable moments of in-class discussion.

"It is just not financially viable to find childcare for him. I would need it 8am to 5.30pm and its just financially not doable."

East Anglian Daily Times: Ellen Hall with her children Rosie and HarryEllen Hall with her children Rosie and Harry (Image: Ellen Hall)

She said, due to her not receiving any benefits, that she doesn't think she would be eligible for any financial help. 

Her daughter, two-and-a-half-year-old Rosie, attends a private nursery where term times will not change, so she said it will be a lot to juggle.

She added that changes made by the schools in an effort to make up for the five extra days off, including a slightly earlier start and less lunch break, will not suffice.

"I don't see that it really has a benefit on Harry and his education. I can't see that they are actually getting back the whole five days they are missing," she said.

The trial of the two-week half-term found that between the half-term break and Christmas pupil absence due to illness was less in every school in the trust in 2023 than in 2022, and overall reduced by 25%, with staff absence down 50%.

In December, this newspaper reported that Department for Education figures showed Suffolk County Council handed out 9,875 penalties to parents and guardians for their child's persistent absence in the 2022-2023 academic year.

This was up from 4,255 the year before, and the highest number since records began in 2009-2010.

Tim Coulson, chief executive of Unity Schools Partnership, said: “We would like to thank every person who took part in the two consultations and have given us their feedback and comments since we trialled the initial two-week half term in October.

“While a majority of staff and parents were in favour of the two-week half term, we acknowledge and take seriously all those comments from individuals not in favour of the proposal.

“Although there are various views, the two most significant are the cost of childcare and how learning time is made up.

“We plan again to organise additional childcare during the second week of this half-term break and individual school headteachers will explain how the learning time will be effectively addressed.

“As with every trust and school across the country, staff recruitment and retention is a challenge."

Unity School Partnership schools also include Thomas Gainsborough School in Great Cornard, Felixstowe School and Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill.