School holidays

Sunderland City Council has teamed up with Hays Travel to offer you the opportunity of saving 10% off your next holiday, as long as it is during the correct school breaks. The scheme is open to parents/carers of nursery, primary and secondary school pupils, to reduce the cost of your holiday and ensure your children are in school as much as possible.

Discount vouchers are distributed via primary and secondary schools annually. If you do not have a voucher please contact your child’s school, or call 0191 561 5782.

You can also print a holiday discount voucher ( 525kb)

Book between 4 January 2010 and 28 February 2010 and you could win £500 worth of Hays Travel holiday vouchers and win £500 for your child's school to spend on extra curricular activities or resources.

• Questions and answers for schools ( 60kb)
• Questions and answers for parents ( 60kb)

School staff - there are various promotional tools and resources available for you to promote the scheme to parents/carers.

School term dates:

School term dates can be found by clicking the links below. Please bear in mind that schools plan five additional INSET days, which are not included in the calendars.

School Term Dates 2010/11 ( 29kb)

School Term Dates 2009/10 ( 19kb)

If term-time holidays are the only option…

Unfortunately some jobs do not always allow as much flexibility as others and term time holidays are the only option. Under education law parents may request absence for pupils from school due to a family holiday. It is for schools to determine whether or not they agree to a family holiday during term time.

You won't qualify for the 10% discount with Hays Travel, but in order to minimise disruption for your child and school you should consider:

• Requesting a leave of absence form from school before booking your holiday

• When school tests or other important events take place

• Taking a one-week break rather than two

• Informing school well in advance so teachers can plan for the absence

• Attaching holidays either side of school holidays

• Avoiding the first week of a new academic year in September.

For further details or enquiries you can email attendanceteam@sunderland.gov.uk or telephone us on 0191 561 5817

Looking for something to do as a family during school holidays? Visit:
www.sunderlandchildrenscentres.co.uk
www.sunderlandevents.co.uk
www.parentscentre.gov.uk/schoolholidays to find out more about activities, events and places to visit in your area.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families publish advice and guidance on
school attendance

INSET days:

Schools must open for 380 half-day sessions (190 days) in each school year, beginning with the first term to start after July. This is consistent with the 195 days a year required by a teacher's statutory conditions of service – the additional five days are for in-service training.  Please check with your child's school to find out the INSET dates they have planned.

Sunderland City Council is responsible for setting holiday term dates in the case of community and voluntary controlled schools. The term dates of foundation and voluntary aided schools are decided by their governing bodies.

Unavoidable school closures:

For the latest information on unavoidable school closures please telephone (0191) 520 5555.
Schools also notify local radio stations (Radio Newcastle, Century, Metro and Sun FM www.sun-fm.com.