'Keep the six weeks' - Echo readers have their say on school holidays and returning to class after Covid-19 lockdown

Both teaching and learning during the pandemic have presented a range of challenges for families at home and staff in the workplace.

Speaking on Sky News on Friday, June 19, schools standards minister Nick Gibb said the Government wants to ensure that no pupils face any long-term detriment to their education as a result of the pandemic.

Mr Gibb explained that the Government is working on ‘other contingency’ plans, with the intention for all children at school in England to be back in class in September.

Funding will be made available to schools for the start of the new academic year, from a £650million pot.

During lockdown, some have suggested that the school holidays could change to account for time lost during the outbreak, so we asked if you thought the six-week summer break should continue as normal.

Many readers agreed that children have been working hard at home, with teachers going above and beyond to support them both in class and remotely.

This is what you said on the Sunderland Echo Facebook page:

Geoffrey Shrubb: “Why not close the schools now and give teachers their six-week holiday then start the new term in August with shortened days which would give the schools a chance to clean classrooms for the following day and lesson prep for teachers. Just a thought.”

Emma Maughan: “Close the schools for the six weeks! Let all of the teachers and support staff have a break, let the kids have a fun summer without homeschooling or the key worker classes.”

Liz Hall: “I think the schools should be opened for the kids to catch up. Or they are gonna be miles behind. Not like hospitals can close to give the doctors nurses and others health care workers a break.”

Debbie Smith: “The teachers deserve their holidays to spend time with their own families! It's like saying everyone who has been furloughed shouldn't be taking their summer holidays! People still have plans!”

Vickie Thompson: “Keep the six weeks for holidays. I have home-schooled my kids to the best of my ability and they have tried hard. They deserve the holidays.”

Helen Leary: “I think it’s time parents took a little bit of responsibility to keep on top of some education and not expect the teachers to work through the holidays.”

Claire Webb: “Yes holidays should still go ahead. Teachers have continued to work through all this and deserve some time off.”

Lisa Fenwick O’Hair: “Teachers have worked hard, children have worked hard and I for one as a parent am certainly ready to pack away school work for the summer.”

Leanne White: “Absolutely should remain the same holiday period. Teachers shouldn’t be penalised because of lockdown, many of the teachers have still been in school teaching, the rest doing it from home, they deserve and need a break too.”

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