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Original poster

Child being kept in at break time

23 replies

LemonChiffon · 10/10/2025 15:00

What would you think about this scenario:

Several year 6 children are kept in at break time because they didn't finish their corrections to their work. My child says that he completed his work, then his teacher told him it wasn't good enough and their were several things to change, including a couple of misspelled words. But she didn't give him the correct spellings, he had to look them up in a dictionary, and because he had the third letter of the word wrong he couldn't find it in the dictionary. So he missed all of his break time.

As you can imagine there is more backstory about this teacher, but just taking the event on its own, is it ok to keep a year 6 child in at break for this? I would completely understand if he was kept in because he hadn't done his homework, or was messing around in the lesson, but this appears to be just kept in because he hadn't done the work to the standard she required.

OP posts:
ToLoseWeightAndNotMyMind · 10/10/2025 15:03

I think it's absolutely fine . Have you seen the work he produced. My son used to say this kind of thing until I saw the work he did in the original lesson. I absolutely agreed he should stay in at break / lunch / after school if needed.

Strop · 10/10/2025 15:03

I never have children missing a whole break time but might hold them back a couple of minutes. I'd expect them to get on independently but then help if they were struggling, like with your dictionary example. There's a lot inbetween 'not messing around' and 'trying your very best' though. Some children just sit and do very little for much of the lesson, despite attempts to jolly them along. As a one off, I wouldn't be worried if this happened to my own child.

Orangemintcream · 10/10/2025 15:08

At year 6 I would certainly expect him to be able to use a dictionary- and if his work isn’t good enough then yes he needs to stay and correct it.

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saraclara · 10/10/2025 15:12

If he couldn't find the word within a minute or two, could he have asked for help?

As an ex teacher I find telling a child to look up a spelling in a dictionary, to be a bit ridiculous. If they don't know how to spell the first few letters, they're not going to find it! But yes, he should probably have asked for help once he'd given it a minute or two, unsuccessfully.

Snorlaxo · 10/10/2025 15:21

Were the words difficult or tricky?
One of my kids is dyslexic and would struggle to find the word dyslexic in a dictionary and he’s a young adult. I would be annoyed with that punishment as it would be punishing him for his dyslexia. He can not even copy the board accurately so even if the words were on the board, I’d expect some leeway.

I’m a grown woman and struggle to remember how many c in the word broccoli. I have autocorrect on so I know I typed that right but there’s a 50% chance that I would have looked up the one c version first and taken up time.

I agree that missing a whole break is for extreme behaviour like messing around and not finishing work and that missing a couple of mins would have made the teacher’s point if she thinks that the mistakes are a result of rushing or done on purpose.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 10/10/2025 15:25

Sounds reasonable.

TalulahJP · 10/10/2025 15:28

As long as the child was able to get a top up of water in his cup / bottle, and allowed to use the toilet, it’s fine.

I would definitely tell him if he tries to use the dictionary and just can find the spelling after three attempts to ask for help.

I imagine there is indeed a back story. There is usually some larking around when kids lose their break. The teacher also loses hers to stay with the few children staying in to finish their spelling or whatever, so teachers presumably don’t do it lightly.

Thortour · 10/10/2025 15:31

He should have done his work when he was told to. Year six have an obligation to get children ready for secondary school. The teacher also missed their break because your child can't do work when they're told to if that makes you feel better.
You'll be shocked by secondary school.

Natsku · 10/10/2025 15:34

My 7 year old had to stay behind after school because he didn't colour in his homework carefully enough! Seemed overkill to me but I could also see how it sets out quite clearly to him from early on that he needs to focus on his work and do it properly, not rush things, and he has been more careful since. So while I don't like the whole keeping children in at break thing, if it teaches them to be more careful about their schoolwork then it can be beneficial (I don't think it should be used for children messing about in class though - messing about generally means they need more time to run around, not less)

Tutorpuzzle · 10/10/2025 15:35

I think you both need to toughen up before secondary. The teacher is doing you a favour and should be thanked.

Original poster
LemonChiffon · 10/10/2025 15:35

I've not seen the work, it's a fair point it may have been done to a poor standard.

This teacher sadly has a reputation for being strict and not very nice, and my son has gone from a child who has always been happy to go to school and comes out happy, to one who doesn't enjoy school at all now.

OP posts:
Original poster
LemonChiffon · 10/10/2025 15:46

Thortour · 10/10/2025 15:31

He should have done his work when he was told to. Year six have an obligation to get children ready for secondary school. The teacher also missed their break because your child can't do work when they're told to if that makes you feel better.
You'll be shocked by secondary school.

He had done his work. If he hadn't been bothered to finish it I would agree with him being kept in. The issue was the teacher highlighted some mistakes/improvements for him to make

I know I'm only getting my son's version of events, and I genuinely want to see what others think.

Usually my son is a rule follower and works at a reasonably high standard, there's never been any issues with his classwork highlighted to us any any previous parents evenings. But I haven't seen his work as it's in his school work book.

OP posts:
Original poster
LemonChiffon · 10/10/2025 15:48

saraclara · 10/10/2025 15:12

If he couldn't find the word within a minute or two, could he have asked for help?

As an ex teacher I find telling a child to look up a spelling in a dictionary, to be a bit ridiculous. If they don't know how to spell the first few letters, they're not going to find it! But yes, he should probably have asked for help once he'd given it a minute or two, unsuccessfully.

Yes I agree he should have asked for help but I think he is quite scared of his teacher and she doesn't seem that approachable!

OP posts:
Pizzapiepasta129 · 10/10/2025 16:04

Genuine question for everyone on this thread, because I work in year 6 and we are struggling with this at the moment; what do you think is an appropriate consequence for not finishing work? Or for messing about in class? Or for disrespecting staff? Or for sitting there, chatting despite many reminders?

We really need to get children ready for secondary school and we know that they go from virtually having no consequences in our primary school to comments/detentions/isolations left right and centre at the local high school. At the moment our behaviour policy isn't preparing them appropriately at all.

Maddy70 · 10/10/2025 16:45

Using a dictionary is teaching them to be independent learners , also the break detention is appropriate

HonoriaBulstrode · 10/10/2025 18:16

I’m a grown woman and struggle to remember how many c in the word broccoli. I have autocorrect on so I know I typed that right but there’s a 50% chance that I would have looked up the one c version first and taken up time.

If you're not sure, you look up the bit you do know - broc - and that gives you broccoli.

indoorplantqueen · 10/10/2025 18:21

primary school children shouldn’t lose playtime. It’s counter productive.

Smartiepants79 · 10/10/2025 18:28

What happens in your job when you don’t provide work up to the expected standard?
Being asked to improve on work if it’s not as good as it could be is totally normal and considered good practice. How else do they learn how to improve? If every single time he’s just told ‘ ah, well, that’ll do’ it will never get any better.
The only small issue I’d have is if he’s regularly missing all his break. As a one off it’s fine. Year 6 teachers have to be pretty strict or it all falls apart.

Thortour · 10/10/2025 18:34

indoorplantqueen · 10/10/2025 18:21

primary school children shouldn’t lose playtime. It’s counter productive.

Agree so when teachers are forced to do it you know it's been after lots and lots of opportunities to amend behaviour.

Endofyear · 10/10/2025 18:36

I would tell my child to suck it up buttercup! It won't be the first or last time he's encountered what he believes is an unfairness from a teacher. One missed breaktime isn't going to do him any harm. I'm actually impressed that a teacher told him to look up words in a dictionary!

Strop · 10/10/2025 18:51

indoorplantqueen · 10/10/2025 18:21

primary school children shouldn’t lose playtime. It’s counter productive.

Genuinely, what other deterrents for poor behaviour are there?

Tutorpuzzle · 10/10/2025 19:02

Strop · 10/10/2025 18:51

Genuinely, what other deterrents for poor behaviour are there?

Show quote history

In my experience a “restorative conversation” is, sadly, about as tough as gets!

I’m still trying to work out what the fuck has happened in primary schools in the last decade…

goldenautumnleaves25 · 10/10/2025 19:12

He needs to get ready for year 7…. in absence if SENDs, I would say its fine.

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