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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think schools should get with the times re working parents.

818 replies

working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:31

Why can't they be open 8-6 for everyone? It would help reduce gender inequality in the work place

AIBU - DON'T BE SILLY
YANBU - actually you have a point

OP posts:
Pollipops1 · 24/05/2024 21:00

Why can’t parents sort their shit out before they have children?

So teachers, surgeons, GPs shouldn’t use wraparound care @Seashor?

Perfect28 · 24/05/2024 20:59

@Seashor I am a teacher as is my husband. We have no family for childcare. I need childcare between 7.30-5.30. so do I need to sort my shit out? What do you suggest?

yesmen · 24/05/2024 20:58

Seashor · 24/05/2024 20:36

Why can’t parents sort their shit out before they have children?

No matter how much you plan life happens and creates change.

And if none of your plans ever had to change and everything goes more or less as planned that is not you or your brilliance - it is mainly luck.

Ffion56 · 24/05/2024 20:57

I’m a teacher, so I use a school based after school club for my kids. I agree that parents should have access to subsidised childcare, but I disagree that schools should be coordinating it.

It most definitely couldn’t be paid for using existing school budgets, we struggle to pay staff for the hours they do already!

DrMadelineMaxwell · 24/05/2024 20:57

5475878237NC · 24/05/2024 20:51

The private schools round here all boast about 8-6 included in the fees so it's not just you OP.

I'll bet they also then have much longer holidays, to account for the fact that they have covered their teaching hours in fewer, longer days.

ihatecoffee · 24/05/2024 20:57

My kids went to private schools and they started at 0820 and finished at 1630
If they wanted to do homework and supper they'd finish at 1830

Some state school near us start at 0900 and finish at 1445!!! How is that a proper school day?
Even when I went to school (I didn't go private), I started at 0830 and finished at 1600!

Why are schools doing such short days nowadays, or is it just when I live?

Itsacruelsummer · 24/05/2024 20:57

LadyKenya · 24/05/2024 20:54

Yes, has the OP even stopped to think about the effect that such long hours could have on some children? They spend more than enough time in school, as it is, without adding more time on to it.

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I agree and I've sadly seen this lots in my teaching career. Children really not coping with being in school for so long even if part of it is a more informal after school club.

I don't blame parents at all as it's the shit economic circumstances we have and old fashioned culture of work.

But we should change that not the length of the school day.

Luddite26 · 24/05/2024 20:57

I agree OP and actually remember this being a Government aspiration about 25 years ago. Hence the wraparound care and sure starts being set up in schools.
The holiday clubs never in state schools fully catered for working parents but private schools managed to run holiday clubs in their school using external providers but using school facilities from 7.30 till 6pm. How easy is that.
All those local schools with empty buildings and playing fields all locked up for 6 weeks over the Summer what a waste.

mactire · 24/05/2024 20:57

New word for your child’s spelling list next week: entitled

PotatoPudding · 24/05/2024 20:55

working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:52

Don't get so defensive I'm not blaming schools. I'm saying it could help if the government decided to change things. Who says it has to finish at 3?

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Do you actually have kids?

DS is 5. School is 8.30-3.15. He’s absolutely exhausted by 3.15. It would be counter productive to give him a further three hours of lessons. He’d also never last until gone 6pm for his dinner.

Pollipops1 · 24/05/2024 20:55

There’s a lot of misconceptions on this thread.

Wrap around care/clubs already exist in a lot of schools

They are often run by external providers not teachers.

It’s not a particular new thing

Using said clubs doesn’t mean you should have not had dc & don’t raise them.

MultiplaLight · 24/05/2024 20:54

working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:52

Don't get so defensive I'm not blaming schools. I'm saying it could help if the government decided to change things. Who says it has to finish at 3?

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Who says schools finish at 3?

Well let me introduce you to directed time. Teachers have 1265 hours per year they can be directed to work. Usually this is 8.40-3ish every term time day plus inset, parents evenings and meetings.

If you want school to finish later, it will have to start later.

TeaKitten · 24/05/2024 20:54

working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:52

Don't get so defensive I'm not blaming schools. I'm saying it could help if the government decided to change things. Who says it has to finish at 3?

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Nobody really because you can use wrap around care.

LadyKenya · 24/05/2024 20:54

Fasterthanacarrot · 24/05/2024 20:48

Long days and wraparound can be hard for children. My ds didnt cope and I ended up quitting work as his MH was declining rapidly

Edited

Yes, has the OP even stopped to think about the effect that such long hours could have on some children? They spend more than enough time in school, as it is, without adding more time on to it.

ilovesooty · 24/05/2024 20:54

happypickle · 24/05/2024 20:48

Yes - but for most people they do act as childcare. Op has a point why is the working day 9-5 but school only 9-3pm?

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Because children are not employees.

Because teachers don't finish work at 3pm.

Original poster
working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:54

Leafalotta · 24/05/2024 20:35

As a lone parent I'm struggling so much with the holidays and childcare, it's taking up so much of my headspace and causing huge stress. I don't blame the school but why does holiday club start and finish an hour earlier than breakfast and after school club? Why do no holiday clubs run after the third week of August? I've used up all my goodwill at work.

That sounds tough

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 24/05/2024 20:53

State schooling is free.

Schools are having a massive amount of their money cut.

To go from 9-3:30 to 8-6 would cost a massive amount of money even assuming parents wanted it which many don't.

So:

It's unaffordable
Lots of people won't want it

Private schools offer this kind of service but the extra hours cost a lot of money!

Original poster
working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:53

PotatoPudding · 24/05/2024 20:52

The people who work in the fancy offices and get paid loads probably don’t expect free childcare.

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Ok it doesn't even have to be free then? Unless the parent earns less than a threshold amount and works full time?

OP posts:
Pollipops1 · 24/05/2024 20:53

How is it going to be staffed and financed?

The current way, external providers & payed for by parents?

Original poster
working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:52

MrsMurphyIWish · 24/05/2024 20:48

Yes. DH and I are teachers. We chose a school that offered wraparound from 7.30-5.45. We split the drop off and collections between us as even these times so not fit with meetings/parents evenings/open evenings/events etc. it’s difficult but that’s family life. I’m not sure why you are blaming schools?

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Don't get so defensive I'm not blaming schools. I'm saying it could help if the government decided to change things. Who says it has to finish at 3?

OP posts:
PotatoPudding · 24/05/2024 20:52

working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:42

Right where is this employment? It won't be in the fancy offices that pay loads will it

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The people who work in the fancy offices and get paid loads probably don’t expect free childcare.

WestminsterCrimes · 24/05/2024 20:52

Definitely not. Children need to spend their free time with family or carers who love them. It's employers/ cost of living/ flexible working that needs to change

MultiplaLight · 24/05/2024 20:52

VivaVivaa · 24/05/2024 20:50

These threads become so offensive. DH and I are both patient facing NHS. We don’t earn much. We work long shifts. I don’t agree at all that schools should be childcare. Equally though, do I not deserve kids as much as someone who has the luxury of WFH flexibly just because I don’t see my kids as much?

It's unusual for front line NHS shifts to be 9-6 every day though. Usually they're a 4 day long shift week(apologies if this isn't the case for you)

NeverDropYourMooncup · 24/05/2024 20:51

working8til4 · 24/05/2024 20:44

Teacher? Then they can offer way more part time roles of half days. Do job share head teachers etc

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You've got 60 hours a week to cover for each role. That's essentially doubling the wages and the employers' expenses. Then there's the additional costs of lighting and heating the place, the loss of private hires...

Can't be done on under six grand a kid.

5475878237NC · 24/05/2024 20:51

The private schools round here all boast about 8-6 included in the fees so it's not just you OP.