Proposed new plans could see about 30 schools in Suffolk have their autumn half term extended.

Unity School Partnership is holding a consultation which is asking parents and carers for their opinion on the plans which schools think would help tackle high absence rates during the autumn term. 

The trust is proposing to add on five days to the October half term to help tackle pupil and staff absences at its schools. 

A spokesman for Unity Schools Partnership said: “By adding five days to the October half term, we believe this will impact positively on the physical, emotional and mental health of our staff and pupils, and decrease absence during this term.

"An added benefit of this strategy is that it creates a second week, during which staff and pupils’ families can take a more affordable holiday.

"We are very clear that we do not authorise pupil absence for holidays during school terms, and we know that a major reason for families making such requests is the higher cost of holidays during school holiday periods."

The trust said that extending the half term will mean the five days will have to be made up to ensure no learning time is lost. 

It comes after County High School in Bury St Edmunds announced its plans to extend the school day by 10 minutes. 

Unity School Partnership oversees schools such as Thomas Gainsborough School in Great Cornard, Felixstowe School, Newmarket Academy, Breckland School in Brandon and Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill. 

The consultation will run until Monday, March 13, with the trust expected to make a decision on term dates for academic year 2023-2024 by the end of this month.