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To: Mr Loughran, Principal of DACA

Help keep holidays the same across schools in Darwen.

Please follow the school holiday pattern recommended by Blackburn with Darwen council so that siblings at different schools are off at the same time and child care is available to parents when needed.

Why is this important?

I am a parent of a child at DACA and also have a child at a local primary school. This Easter my children have completely different two week holidays; the youngest starts his holidays the day that DACA go back after theirs.
I am really saddened that I can't spend any time over the end of term break together as a family as DACA have chosen not to follow the council's recommended holiday pattern. This is particularly upsetting as parents are now fined if they take their children out of school in term time and are in a lose / lose situation.
Different holidays also make child care exceptionally difficult for many families. Out of schools holiday club providers are following the council's recommended end of term break so parents have been left stuck and struggling this Easter.
The school expects its students and parents to show their support and promotes itself as being a part of the local community. Please could you give your students and parents the same support and respect by following the recommended holiday pattern, ensuring we can have quality family time and can arrange appropriate child care where necessary.
Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Sudell Road, Darwen

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Updates

2016-04-22 10:55:07 +0100

Petition is in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph today :)

2016-04-22 10:54:25 +0100

Hi all, I met with Mr Loghran and he gave me an assurance that DACA would try and follow the Blackburn with Darwen school holidays .
He said that secondary schools prefer an earlier Easter so they can have a longer lead in for exams. He stated that next year's October half term is different as the LEA changed the date after DACA had published their holiday dates for 2016/17.
I talked to him about difficulties with child care and the importance of family time. I also mentioned the huge effect it has when the two secondary schools in Darwen both have different holidays to the primary schools. He wanted me to point out that this preceded them both having academy status.
He also said that only one other parent had complained about the Easter holidays this year; we need to keep making sure that parents' voices are heard loud & clear!!
Let's keep watching for the publication of 2017/18 dates so we can act quickly if they're different again!

2016-03-18 16:07:31 +0000

I have a meeting with Mr. Loghran, Principal, DACA, on Wednesday 23rd March to discuss the petition.
Please re-share the petition in the meantime as the more support it has the stronger the pressure on the school.
Thank you very much for your support.

2016-03-14 19:14:50 +0000

100 signatures reached

2016-03-14 15:34:03 +0000

50 signatures reached

2016-03-14 08:10:55 +0000

25 signatures reached

2016-03-14 00:15:28 +0000

10 signatures reached