Major changes to children's summer holidays in Leicester and Leicestershire are being proposed over the coming years, including the potential loss of the traditional 'Leicestershire fortnight'.

Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council are looking to change their traditional early summer break and have proposed a number of changes between Autumn 2027 to Summer 2032.

Leicestershire schools usually break up for the summer earlier than the rest of the country to align with the traditional 1960s 'July fortnight' when local factories would shut down.

The council is looking at three proposals, with the city and county's preferred model meaning parents would lose a week from the 'Leicestershire fortnight'.

According to documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), both the county council's and city council's preferred plan would mean children breaking up for the summer a week later than usual.

Children would also return to school a week earlier, and the autumn half-term would start earlier but be extended by a week.

Parents would ultimately keep one week of the traditional Leicestershire fortnight, potentially allowing them to still benefit from cheaper holidays.

Another proposal includes a later summer holiday for Leicestershire children, with children breaking up on a Thursday instead of Monday, as well as a later autumn half-term break, which would also be extended by another week.

advertisement

The third proposal would see Leicestershire children stick to the usual term times, with only a one-week break during the autumn half term and a longer, earlier summer break.

Council bosses have acknowledged that most families prefer the current model; however, it has said that "families face difficulties when children attend different schools in the same family".

The authority said that its preferred plan "may reduce the number of child protection referrals and will support families struggling with the cost of childcare and reduce learning loss over the break".

Back in 2021, a similar consultation was launched, in which parents voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the 'Leicestershire fortnight' – the first two weeks of pupils' holidays in Leicester and Leicestershire.

Parents often prefer this arrangement because it allows them to take their family on holiday outside the traditional summer holiday period, so they can find cheaper, quieter options.

Both Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council are planning to launch consultations on the proposals, with the county council's cabinet set to meet next week to agree on a six-week consultation.

The consultation will run from April 20 to May 31 and will be conducted primarily via an online survey.

The city council is also expected to run a similar consultation at the same time.

advertisement