When you disagree with a school discipline strategy

[Whowhatwherewhenwhynow]

what is the correct process to use to communicate with a school about disagreeing with some of their strategies?

min particular I want to raise the issue of children having play time removed for not recording enough reads in their home/school book.

I was planning to email the head but shouldI email the governors as well. I know I’m likely to be fobbed off but I do wish to voice my concerns. The school is part of an academy, so I could approach them too.

is there any other way of raising these types of issues with schools? (I’m in England)

One wonders the thinking behind this?
It's absolutely mad.

It's reading for pleasure that improves outcomes (which illustrates nicely that outcomes are simply an expression of what is happening inside the mind, not what should be striven for at primary but that's a different argument).

I agree with your feelings about the policy op but unless the school has a forum for parent feedback/suggestions I don't think you'll get very far. Good idea to start informally as you plan. Ultimately though you may have to change schools if this ethos is unacceptable to you. I doubt it's the only policy they have that is fucking stupid and counterproductive and if they don't have that feedback forum they are not going to be open to change either.

I'm surprised that you actually needed someone to point out this very obvious thing to you.

Do not email the head until you have spoken to the class teacher. They will just direct you there anyway.

It's maybe a bit harsh, but I'd just make sure they do it, to be honest. Older ones are going to have to get used to this sort of thing!

If a child is consistently losing their play time every week for not reading and signing, then I think there's a more important problem to solve than the punishment.
That said I don't really like the whole reading record thing anyway.

There’s certainly no better way to ensure children dislike reading, is there?

YANBU

DS' school does this

30 sets of 10 spellings on SpellingShed plus 20 games on TTRS

Plus reading

Lose Friday play time if they don't.

it's a chew on and all of his pals "click spam' where they just type 1 letter and press enter. It still records the number of tries needed - renders it an utterly pointless task

I'm sucking it up as ds is Y6 and he doesn't want me to say anything but I'll be honest - if he can do 3 sets of 10 in a row all correct I sometimes do them for him after that as we still love to lie in bed and read together so doing the pointless spellings takes away from that

If it is an academy you might find it is Trustees who set some of the policies.

The best thing would be to have some parent volunteers who can help with those children who are not getting the reading support from home, for whatever reason. Not all classes have a TA now, or if they do they will be spread very thinly across all the pupils who need additional help, especially those with EHCPs, as they will be the pupils most likely funding the TA

This policy has been in schools for many years and I'm not a fan of it either. I encountered it when my dd1 was in reception. She's in her 20's now.

To be totally honest, yes, follow the set procedure for complaints as pp's explain above, but I don't think you will get anywhere, sorry.

Just do what I ended up doing for years, and fill the book with a pack of lies.

Have you considered helping your friend by reading with her child?

If it’s wanted and accepted gladly that’s nice. If not then that’s intrusive and officious.

If it’s wanted and accepted gladly that’s nice. If not then that’s intrusive and officious.

I said have you considered. I assumed talking to the mother before doing do was implied

As another poster has said you would hope that the class teacher would be able to apply the missing playtime rule at her discretion, surely most teachers would understand that children not reading at homes need extra support in class rather than a draconian punishment.

Reading with your child should be a daily activity at home - possibly part of a bedtime routine. Talking about characters, what could happen next, the setting for the story, fostering a love of stories and language - this can all encourage the child to read for pleasure, which is the aim.

Remembering to write it in the record book can be tricky for some parents (busy lives, mental health, ADHD & other SEN), but most people have smartphones where you can set a daily/weekly alarm or reminder to help you do that.

If there are circumstances where a child isn't being supported with reading at home, then asking school for support/help would benefit everyone. Schools should be working with parents to help the child succeed. I don't agree with punishments in this scenario (who does that benefit?), but a "reading club" which takes place at lunchtime would help those kids keep up with their peers and when staff can be available to help.

If it's more a policy change OP, then that's a different approach - raise your concerns with head in first instance.

I agree with all of this. Yes it’s a policy change I’d like (though of course I’m realistic that likely my opinion won’t result in any change).

the reading club type approach would be fab. Centred on the needs of the child.

I would happily help but I’m not sure that’s what she’s looking for from how she’s spoken of it. She says she read but forgets to write it in.

But it’s a whole school strategy, so I assume not implemented by the teacher. O

I'm confused

You said

she will still struggle to manage her routine to write in reads, she’ll just fake reads so he doesn’t loose his play time. Im not sure what’s been achieved

I suggested you helped and then you said

I would happily help but I’m not sure that’s what she’s looking for from how she’s spoken of it. She says she read but forgets to write it in.

I think it’s a godawful dumbshit policy.

Reading should be about pleasure not about tick boxes and punishment.
Children who have shit parents have enough problems already.
Playtime is as important for well-being and exercise as learning.
Grown adults should not be answerable to teachers in terms of dictating daily admin.

I would be kicking off a real stink about this. And I’m a reading, book worm fanatic but this is not the way to instil a reading culture. It’s just a way for schools to tick boxes and cut corners.

She reads every night with her son, but often their own books and not the schoolbooks. She writes in a load of reads at the end of the week before Friday, because she’s not done it throughout the week and fakes some additional reads of his schoolbook.

I suggest you speak to school about your concerns. They would want to know about parents who can't read or write, or have mental health problems that prevent them reading/writing with their child as requested.

IME schools are working extremely hard to improve standards of reading. I doubt the children who haven't the home support are being made to stand in isolation during their Friday playtime. More likely they're enjoying 121 quality phonics/reading input. How much have you asked the school already? Frankly your condescending attitude towards educational staff is offensive.

I agree with those saying that this is not an acceptable policy. Follow the complaints policy. This article may be helpful:

www.tes.com/magazine/archive/dont-deny-breaks-punish-pupils-say-psychologists?amp

This is absolutely appalling to have a disciplinary for reading. Your gut reaction is correct. There are many families and parents who cannot support homework regularly. Absolutely archaic and destructive. Not sure of the English system but whoever writes the policy needs to refresh their views on this. Usually HT in Scotland but maybe Governors in England.

@CaptainMum what have I said that you have interpreted as condescending?

I generally am very happy with my child’s school and the teachers and I have told them such several times. I don’t disagree that teachers work hard, I think they have an extremely stressful job at the moment and I know several teachers personally who go way above and beyond what they are paid for. As well as sevral that have left because of the stress. Hence why I don’t want to approach the individual teacher because it’s not about them.

you seem to have interpreted my op as a dig at teachers. It isn’t. It’s a concern about the strategy being used and if it is suitable or effective. Sadly although it should’ve, not all strategies used are evidenced based. I also know plenty in the teaching profession who themselves disagree with some of the similar rules put in place by their schools/academies etc. I would actually prefer to see education policies more teacher led.

Any teacher who defends this is an idiot too.
Yes, I have been teaching for 30 odd years.
Using punitive measures against a non compulsory out of school activity is wrong.

They should be aware anyway that there are doubts about the positive impact of set homework anyway. Parents can choose to not do Homework in Scotland and rightly so.

www.hull.ac.uk/work-with-us/more/media-centre/news/2022/primary-school-children-get-little-academic-benefit-from-homework