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

Schools do need to be open until six. Lessons and teacher responsibilities should end at their usual time. There should be after school provision for any children who need it and also during the holidays..not provided by teachers but different people who can supervise and support fun activities or a quiet place or whatever is needed. The strain on families nowadays is wrong.

Why not allow a non working parent to be able to transfer 100% of their tax free allowance to the working parent & or bring back married couples tax allowance? It would help towards putting more money in the household pot, be cheaper than providing wraparound childcare. So many parents work & end up spending nearly everything they earn on childcare even with the so called free hours, which really aren't completely free.

I am not saying that my only experience of schools is being a parent on the pta, once again you assume so much.
What I am saying is so many schools can manage to utilise their space when it is not being used and open their premises up for profit. Then there are the nay sayers.

@StrawberrySquash you’re right. It’s bloody hard and near impossible to continue with a full-time job when you have kids. In my workplace all the men with kids continue their lives just the same as when they were childless. They can work long hours and few seem involved in things like making fancy dress costumes or faking mince pies. A few of the younger dads seem a little more involved.

The mums nearly all work part-time or have some sort of superhuman arrangements in place for childcare. All of them are ten times more invested in the lives of their children.

Some superstar women make it to the top. Most flounder along the way. The issue is really that the workplace has not adapted.

Outdoor classrooms... my school has one for eg... it would be on school premises but separate. . It has toilets own enclosed play outdoors etc... yes there would be a huge cost to set up but it would easily recoup money for government the design is such it wouldn't interfere with anything going on in the school building or cleaning etc and the outdoor class would have its own cleaning etc

Nope. The OP is correct. In fact, my partner works nights so I reckon they should be 24 hours. I'd maybe see them at weekends but maybe the Conservative government could look at funding weekend schools? That would really boost productivity and help this country get back to where it belongs. I hate the French.

But they expect school services like this to pick up the pieces? I know at least 3 childminders locally to me.

I’m not saying parents shouldn’t work. My SIL works stupid hours though, her DS misses her.

WaitingfortheTardis Sorry, have managed to quote wrong message? Was the one about parents needing to get their act together.

If the government make it the responsibility of schools to have breakfast/after school clubs on site, then what will almost certainly happen is, the government won’t fund them properly and for many schools (probably the ones not running them now as they have done the sums) will run at a loss. The government not funding dentists and childcare settings properly have been two examples of how well such schemes work.

Heads will then have to take the money from
somewhere else in the school, which will probably come from wages-usually not replacing a leaving teacher/making them redundant.

I don’t think there is either the political will or the public support for a mass increase in everyone’s taxes to pay for universal ‘free’ childcare.

How? How do you magically arrange your life so that your five weeks of holiday covers their 13? So that your eight hour day plus travel isn't longer than theirs? It's really hard. And one of the reasons I don't have kids is I've observed that. What is the right way to have got my act together?

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain I’m not sure how this one anecdote is relevant.

It’s not that parents can’t be bothered to arrange childcare. It’s that childcare is sometimes near-impossible to find and yet parents need to work to pay to keep a roof over their heads. Sometimes it even enhances the family’s life.

Are you saying that the only experience you have of schools is being on the PTA? Or have you actually been school staff for any length of time? The non-school staff on PTAs are great and fundraising often couldn’t happen without their help but honestly the suggestions and assumptions that are thrown up sometimes without thought as to why they might not be able to happen. Or the time that they think school staff might have to spare to put something in place…..they often aren’t aware of the implications. I’m not talking about things like school discos in the hall which are easy to put on.

Is this a joke? Working class women have always worked outside the home, it's not a new phenomenon. My Grandmother is 88, when her kids were young she had two jobs.

@DragonFly98

Well I wouldn't go that far! I think it's a lot harder to live a comfortable life on anything but a dual full time income though. It would be nice if both parents could work flexible hours. Often men would like to see more of their children as well!

Should we have more affordable and accessible childcare in this country? YES
Is it the job of schools to provide that? NO!

We are very fortunate that our children get free education in this country. It's not childcare so you can work. It's education so they can learn.

At DNephew’s inner London primary school they have breakfast clubs, afterschool clubs and extended day provision, the latter isn’t available on Fridays and is up to 5.45pm. Yes they have extra staff available to do this but how many parents can’t be bothered to find childcare or look after their child?

One child, the best friend of DNephew is regularly at extended day provision as his DM works abroad in Europe a lot and his dad does “admin” for his job (he runs a pub). The dad told DNephew’s parents it’s easier for him to go there especially when the mother is away so he gets peace and quiet. They’re also a one child household.

This isn't a schools issue

This is a working rights and workplace issues.

As a previous pp has mentioned, other things go on in school when children aren't there.

Teachers don't leave at 3.
Cleaners have to come in

And holidays are very busy. They're not all shut

So how will that work?

Well if you're stretched already, paying higher taxes for this care may not help you

Where's the money coming from?

So there is a school with wraparound near you....

No one said you should abort due to lack of wraparound. But if you know school is going to be an issue you have 4 years to prepare (at least), by moving, finding a childminder, changing jobs, organising a family member to help.
It's not like school hours are sprung on you out of nowhere.

Where do they staff work whilst others are using the space?

When do the cleaners clean?

Well, there's a thought

Do you fancy it?

Not everyone actually wants to work with children (because the pay will still be shit for a start)

What is this feminism in your opinion that stuffed it up for everyone?

I do not think schools should be 8 till 6 but schools should be open that time with wrap around care easily available... the government spends so much on childcare to get people to work that money could be invested in schools.to provide this at s much lower cost...
I would also find it easier.to have one place my children could go to instead of arranging a morning childcare and drop off.and evening pick up.and childcare.
I also think there should be a 4 day week every fortnight allowing children to have extra free time or play time where that be in the what I would call.play school or.home.