{"id":2600,"date":"2025-08-07T06:24:22","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T05:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2600"},"modified":"2025-08-05T16:31:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T15:31:56","slug":"coping-with-school-holidays-as-a-small-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/08\/coping-with-school-holidays-as-a-small-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Coping with School Holidays as a Small Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes : <\/span><\/span><h1>Coping with School Holidays as a Small Business<\/h1>\n<p>Here in Wales, we are well into the summer school holiday and it got me to thinking about how you, as a small business can cope with 6 weeks of children at\u00a0 home.\u00a0 So&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s be honest\u2014school holidays can feel like a juggling act for small business owners. Whether you&#8217;re running things solo or managing a small team with kids, when term ends, life gets that bit more complicated. You&#8217;ve got work to do, customers to keep happy, and suddenly there are children needing attention, childcare falling through, and everything feeling a bit up in the air.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a sole trader or have a few staff members (especially ones with young children), this one\u2019s for you. We\u2019re diving into how to survive and even *thrive* during school holidays without losing your head or letting your business slide.<!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Why School Holidays Are So Tricky for Small Businesses<\/h2>\n<p>First off, let\u2019s acknowledge the elephant in the room. School holidays aren&#8217;t just about kids getting a break. For small businesses, they can mean:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Staff needing time off (sometimes at short notice)<\/li>\n<li>Reduced productivity (because kids at home equals distractions)<\/li>\n<li>Unpredictable customer demand\u2014some sectors and locations go quiet, others get busier<\/li>\n<li>Increased stress levels all round<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Unlike bigger companies, you don\u2019t always have cover or loads of backup. It\u2019s all a bit tighter, and when one piece shifts, the whole puzzle changes.<\/p>\n<h2>Plan Ahead as Much as You Can<\/h2>\n<p>It sounds obvious, but planning ahead is your best friend. Grab a school calendar (or better yet, ask your staff to share theirs), and get key dates into your work diary. Half terms, inset days, summer holidays\u2014they all count.<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve got the dates down, start thinking about how your business will handle each break. Will you need extra help? Can you schedule lighter workloads? Are there any projects that can be moved forward or pushed back?<\/p>\n<p>You won\u2019t be able to plan for everything, but having a rough idea helps a lot. Plus, it gives your team time to arrange childcare or flag any dates they\u2019ll definitely need off.<\/p>\n<h2>Talk to Your Team Early<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve got staff, get those conversations in early. It\u2019s not about being strict\u2014it\u2019s about being clear. Let them know you understand school holidays are tricky, and you want to find a balance that works for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Ask:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What dates they\u2019ll likely need off<\/li>\n<li>If they can work different hours (like early mornings or evenings)<\/li>\n<li>Whether they\u2019re open to hybrid or home working (if that\u2019s possible)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By chatting early, you avoid last-minute surprises and can build a more flexible rota that works for the business and the parents in your team.<\/p>\n<h2>Be Honest with Your Customers<\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes, small businesses try to keep everything running exactly as normal, even when things are anything but. That\u2019s a fast way to burnout.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, be upfront with your customers. If your hours will change slightly, or you\u2019ll be slower to respond, let them know. Most people understand\u2014especially if you\u2019re a small or family-run business. A quick post on social media, an update on your website, or an auto-reply on your emails can go a long way.<\/p>\n<p>Honesty beats silence every time.<\/p>\n<h2>Offer Flexible Working Where You Can<\/h2>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s you, your staff, or both\u2014being flexible helps. School holidays often mean patchy childcare, unexpected illnesses, or just the need to be more available for your kids. If it\u2019s possible, try offering:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Earlier or later working hours<\/li>\n<li>Split shifts (like working in two shorter chunks)<\/li>\n<li>Working from home<\/li>\n<li>Job sharing or temporary cover<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is especially useful over long holidays like summer, when six weeks can feel like forever (unless you are a child and you are in week 5 or 6 of the holiday). A bit of give and take means work still gets done, and everyone feels a bit less stressed.<\/p>\n<h2>Make Use of Technology<\/h2>\n<p>There are loads of tools out there that can make your life easier during holidays. Here are a few worth looking into:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Scheduling tools:<\/strong> Automate posts on social media, blog uploads, or emails<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shared calendars:<\/strong> Keep track of who\u2019s working when<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/07\/task-management-for-small-businesses-simple-ways-to-stay-on-track\/\">Task management apps<\/a>:<\/strong> These can help you stay on top of things<\/li>\n<li><strong>Communication tools:<\/strong> Slack or WhatsApp groups for quick team check-ins<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These help keep things running smoothly, even if you or your staff are only online part of the day.<\/p>\n<h2>Look After Yourself, Too<\/h2>\n<p>This one\u2019s important. If you\u2019re running a business and juggling kids during the holidays, you\u2019ve got two full-time jobs at once. It\u2019s exhausting.<\/p>\n<p>Try not to overload your schedule. Be realistic about what you can get done. Take proper breaks where you can (even if it&#8217;s just a cuppa in silence while the kids are watching telly), and don\u2019t beat yourself up if things slip a bit.<\/p>\n<p>Your wellbeing is just as important as the business.<\/p>\n<h2>Get Creative with Childcare<\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s talk about one of the biggest headaches\u2014childcare. If you\u2019re a sole trader or your team have young kids, it can be tough to find (and afford) cover. Here are some options that might help:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Swap days with friends or family:<\/strong> You take their kids one day, they take yours another<\/li>\n<li><strong>Holiday clubs:<\/strong> Some are council-run and more affordable than private childcare<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shared childcare with other parents in business:<\/strong> Take turns minding the kids so each of you gets work time<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bring the kids to work (if it\u2019s safe):<\/strong> Set them up with a tablet or colouring at the corner of your office<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s rarely perfect, but sometimes a mix of options can get you through the week.<\/p>\n<h2>Think About Adjusting Your Services Temporarily<\/h2>\n<p>Depending on your business type, it might be worth tweaking your services during holiday periods. For example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you run a shop or caf\u00e9, could you open an hour later or close early a couple of days a week?<\/li>\n<li>If you offer 1-to-1 services, could you group appointments or offer shorter sessions?<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re a maker or creative, could you focus on batching and order fulfilment rather than launches?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These small changes can take some pressure off without affecting your bottom line too much.<\/p>\n<h2>Use Holidays for Business Development (If You Can)<\/h2>\n<p>If business is a bit quieter during the holidays, that can actually be a chance to get other stuff done\u2014like updating your website, sorting your admin, writing content, or planning new services.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, this only works if you\u2019ve got enough breathing room. If you&#8217;re running around after toddlers or doing school runs all day, don&#8217;t force it. But if the time\u2019s there, use it wisely!<\/p>\n<h2>Don\u2019t Be Afraid to Slow Down<\/h2>\n<p>This might go against every instinct you\u2019ve got as a small business owner, but hear me out: sometimes it\u2019s okay to slow down.<\/p>\n<p>The world won\u2019t end if you don\u2019t post on Instagram for a week or if orders take a little longer to process. People take holidays. Customers understand. It\u2019s better to set boundaries and take care of yourself than to run yourself into the ground trying to \u201cdo it all\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve got staff, encourage them to slow down a little too. Working flat out with children at home isn\u2019t sustainable.<\/p>\n<h2>Have a Post-Holiday Catch-Up Plan<\/h2>\n<p>Once the kids are back at school, give yourself and your team a bit of time to catch up. Maybe block out a morning to sort through emails, tidy up the to-do list, and reset your systems.<\/p>\n<p>Try not to book too much in for that first week back\u2014think of it as your recovery week! You\u2019ll all get more done if you ease back in, rather than diving straight into a mountain of work.<\/p>\n<h2>You\u2019re Doing Better Than You Think<\/h2>\n<p>If school holidays have left you frazzled, tired, and wondering how everyone else seems to be managing, here\u2019s a gentle reminder: you\u2019re not alone, and you\u2019re doing better than you think.<\/p>\n<p>Running a business is hard. Raising kids is hard. Doing both at the same time, without the resources of a big team or loads of childcare? That\u2019s superhero stuff.<\/p>\n<p>So take a breath. Do what you can. Let go of the guilt when things don\u2019t go to plan. And remember, this phase doesn\u2019t last forever. The holidays will end. Your routine will return. And your business will still be there, waiting for you.<\/p>\n<p>Hang in there\u2014you\u2019ve got this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes : <\/span><\/span>Coping with School Holidays as a Small Business Here in Wales, we are well into the summer school holiday and it got me to thinking about how you, as a small business can cope with 6 weeks of children at\u00a0 home.\u00a0 So&#8230; Let\u2019s be honest\u2014school holidays can feel like a juggling act for small business [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-advice","category-human-resources"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}