Suffolk school trust extends autumn half-term break to two weeks

Unity Schools Partnership runs 33 schools across Suffolk and neighbouring counties

A school trust has received approval to extend the autumn half-term break to a fortnight.

The Unity Schools Partnership (USP) runs 33 schools in Suffolk and on the Essex-Cambridgeshire borders.

It said the "majority of staff and parents" favoured the plan, which was trialled across its sites in October.

Tim Coulson, chief executive of USP, said plans are in place to assist parents with the change, including "additional childcare".

A second round of consultation in January received 2,929 responses from parents, with 58% in favour of the extension and 42% against.

The trust also received 1,079 responses from staff members, 89% of which were in favour of the proposal.

Chief executive Tim Coulson said it was an issue that had divided views, but a majority were in favour

"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," said Mr Coulson.

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

He added that there were plans to organise additional childcare during the second week of the half-term break, and individual schools would explain how learning time would be effectively addressed.

Plans were also being finalised to offer more holiday activities during the break in Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Sudbury and Haverhill.

The trust said the plans aimed to reduce staff and student absences between the half-term and Christmas holidays.

It also said a two-week trial in October produced positive results with staff absences reduced by 50% and pupil absence reduced by 25% overall.