We call on the Government to launch a joint review by the Department for Education, Work and Pensions and HM Treasury into school term times and better aligning them with childcare provision and modern working life.

The review should include looking into piloting alternative term patterns and expanding affordable wraparound and holiday childcare. For millions of working families, staying in work depends on school and childcare logistics as much as pay. Long school holidays and limited wraparound care can create gaps for some parents, who may have to fill them privately. For many households, especially single-parent families, this could mean using annual leave, paying for holiday clubs or taking unpaid leave. This may push parents out of work and leave families absorbing costs that the system creates. We believe any term time date changes must protect teacher workload and be properly funded through pilots.