Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 25 May 2021

LEICESTERSHIRE County Council have launched a new consultation to see when parents think next years’ half terms should take place for schools in Leicester and Leicestershire.

The consultation was set up as the Council are looking to set the term dates which will be in place for the next five years, starting from Autumn 2022 to Summer 2027.

Parents have been given two main newly-proposed options, but one option is there for all times to stay the same as they currently are, if preferred.

The proposals that have been put forward attempt to ‘meet a range of different needs’ across the county, such as reducing term times to have early breaks, and balancing term lengths in a bid to reduce staff and student sickness.

In full, the three main options are:

• Keeping the ‘traditional’ county term time pattern, offering an earlier summer holiday, but a longer autumn term
• Aligning the autumn and spring breaks in line with most other authorities, including Leicester City, with a longer autumn term
• Introducing a two-week autumn half-term break, leaving terms ‘more balanced’ across the whole year, but resulting in a shorter Easter break

The consultation’s cut-off time has been revealed as midnight on Sunday 19 July.

Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families explained that the dates need reviewing so that they can work in the best way possible for families living in or attending schools in the local areas.

She explained: “The current term dates are ending, so we need to review these and make sure we have dates in place that work in the best way possible for young people and their families who live in, or attend school in the local area.

“This is your chance to have your say. We’ve worked with the City Council to align our consultations as we know people sometimes live and work and go to school across the boundaries of both areas.

“Your feedback is really valuable and will help us see if we need to maintain current arrangements or align term times differently.”

The consultation for the Leicestershire term times can be digitally filled in online here.

Alternatively, paper forms can be requested by calling 0116 305 6324 or emailing the Council’s Admissions email address at admissions@leics.gov.uk.