Agenda item

The Council notes:

·       The disproportionately expensive cost of holidays during the traditional school holiday period, and the impact these costs have on families in our city;

·       That families want to observe designated school holiday periods, but that the excessive cost of taking breaks during these periods can prove prohibitive – meaning families often have to choose between taking no holiday at all, or taking pupils out of school during term time;

·       Moves by other councils in the UK to examine existing school term arrangements with a view to shortening the summer break in order to create an additional week’s holiday elsewhere during the school calendar when families can take holidays at a cheaper rate.

The Council resolves to ask the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee to undertake a detailed analysis of the issue, and recommending possible options for future term patterns for consideration by Cabinet, before the May 2017 local elections.

Proposed by:   Councillor Ed Bridges

Seconded by: Councillor Bill Kelloway