MOST of us envy teachers for their long summer holidays, even if we conveniently forget their high workload for the rest of the year. But after six weeks even the most ardent traveller hankers for a return to normality.

The same goes for pupils, most of whom are bored to tears by the end of August. While few would admit it, they are really quite pleased to be back at school. However, this year is going to be even worse, because the summer holidays will be a week longer and, not surprisingly, parents are tearing their hair out.

Some tell us they face increased costs, child care issues and “children climbing the walls” after York, North and East Yorkshire councils announced that the traditional break had been elongated from 29 working days to 34, due to the length of the academic years either side.

We understand this is in line with a number of other local authorities, but it doesn’t alter the fact that many parents won’t have enough work holiday to cover this extra week. And that could mean they face a large child care bill at an already expensive time of the year.

Hopefully, if nothing else, this will serve as a lesson to be learned when, under the Deregulation Bill, local authorities are no longer able to tell maintained schools when their terms must be set. Nor, crucially, how long the summer holidays should be.