Half terms are usually 1 week, but yes. Typically the school year has 3 terms Sept-Christmas with a week off (half term) in October, and two weeks over christmas/new year , Jan to Easter with a one week half term break in Feb andthen 2 weeks around Easter , then Easter - July with a half term in May, then 6 weeks summer break. So kids typically have around 13 weeks ofthe year when they are not in school. Statutory minimum for PTO for someone who works full time is 5.6 weeks so even in a two parent family, you can have parents who have a total of 11.2 weeks paid vacation time and children who are not in school for 13 weeks, so lots of families need extra help with child care . (of coruse, many employers give more leave than the statutory minimum, nad when parents are togehteoften they will want to be off at the same tme so they can go way together, so there's often still a gap to fill. Grandparents are (usually) cheaper than paying for a holiday club or other childcare.