Families living on the Perth and Kinross border are expected to benefit from a planned shake-up of school holiday dates.
Council chiefs want to align the region’s term times so they are the same as those in neighbouring Dundee and Angus.
The move is expected to be rubber-stamped by members of the Lifelong Learning Committee later this week.
Executive director of education Sheena Devlin believes it will encourage teachers from all three areas to work together and share ideas during in-service training days.
But it is also expected to help save childcare costs for families, particularly on the boundary of the region, who work in one authority area and send their children to school in another.
Carse of Gowrie councillor Angus Forbes has welcomed the paper, which will go before members on Wednesday.
“I really hope it is voted through by my colleagues and by the other authorities,” he said.
“My ward is right on the border with both Dundee and Angus council areas and I know of many teachers who live in my ward and who have children in a Perth and Kinross Counci school, but who work in Dundee or Angus.
“When holidays don’t coincide there are childcare issues to be arranged and paid for.”
The Conservative councillor added: “Of course, it’s not just teachers. Some employers close for school holidays, especially over Christmas, and if the dates don’t tie up then there is an expense and hassle involved in childcare arrangements.
“This is an excellent initiative by the administration and it gets my wholehearted support.”
In her report to councillors, service manager Karen Robertson said: “The pattern of dates provides operational and logistical benefits.
“Previously, significant issues had arisen for parents and staff where there was
no commonality between local authorities in setting the holiday dates. This
had resulted in teaching staff living and working in different authority areas
having different holidays to their own children and the same for parents who
live and work in different authorities.”
She added: “In addition, a number of children attend schools in neighbouring authorities, particularly at secondary school, which left parents having primary and secondary children with different holiday dates depending on where they attended school.
“This presented both parents and
staff with significant childcare issues in addition to the difficulties of organising
family holidays.”
