Crossword Genius

Difficulties with English in school vacation (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

holes

'difficulties' is the definition.
(hole is a kind of difficulty)

'english in school vacation' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'school vacation' becomes 'hols'.
'e' placed within 'hols' is 'HOLES'.

'with' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for holes that I've seen before include "Openings" , "Scrapes" , "Apertures" , "Empty spaces" , "Cavities" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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