To expect the shcool to inform parents if they are finishing early on the last day of term?

[LynetteScavo]

Tomorrow is the last day of term.

Today DS (Y7) informs me they are finishing shcool at 1.30pm tomorrow, and the bus will collect him then. (this is the first I've heard of it!)

I have arranged work so I am home when he arrives home (around 4.30pm) or slightly later. He does cope with being alone in the house for short periods, but he has been diagnosed with anxiety disorder, and when he was in Y3/4 (I know, I know it's a long time ago) he couldn't even be alone in a room alone.

Tomorrow I will be home around 5pm...normally he can cope this long alone, but if school finishes early he we be alone for 2 1/2-3 hours. If he feels scared he will go outside and play on his scooter looking for some company. It will probably be snowing and no one else will be around.

I don't think a message from the school through the kids is good enough.

Surely some must forget to tell their parents, and will be roaming the streets for a couple of hours.

Don't you get a school calendar to tell you of these things at the beginning of the year?

It should say on the term dates which you received at the start of the academic year?

I'm not aware what time my son is finishing school tomorrow either.

I did ask another parent today - but they were none the wiser either.

Communication is very poor indeed. Not impressed. Website doesn't mention it either

We are expected to look at the schools website regularly for updates abot the school day and term dates, etc. It is a large school and it would be a waste of paper to send 2000 letters home.

Does he have a friend he could go home with for a short while?

Is this the first time this has happened? My DD's school always closes early at Christmas and for the summer holidays.
We get newsletters home, it's on the school website and the Council website.
YABU if the information had been available from these sources.

I work in a secondary school. We have a newsletter that goes out with all the dates on when we are finishing early. It will also be on our website.

Thing is though Lynette, it isn't primary, they are students now not pupils and they are expected to remember a little more than they would have - they are not babies.

or so my DS1 tells me about being a student and not a pupil

I would be surprised if the information had not been made available to the parents previously- through a website, newsletter or similar as others have said.

We got a text and an email informing us.

This happened to us in reception. We didn't find out until the last day of term and the teacher's response was "but we always finish at midday!"

The message didn't get through to one mum and she got a call at work asking why her son was still sat at his desk with his coat on.

It doesnt say on website or newsletter or calendar.

It just says end of term Friday 17th December

We never finish early. Ever. Unless it is snowing and the bus companies say they are sending the buses now or never.

secondary here shuts at 12 i have no idea why, we didn't years ago!

IME this is quite common - my DS's school calendar indicates last day of term ,it certainly doesn't specify that school will close at lunchtime - tho it sometimes does.
TBH I suspect they make the decision to close early during the week ,it never seems planned at my child's school.

I've every sympathy with OP ,DC is yr 7 so she won't be familiar with this particular secondary school habit.

And child is anxious type - give her a break!

I wasn't have a dig at the OP's child, just merely saying it is secondary school - they are not babied anymore, they are expected to remember a little more than at primary.

Every secondary school I've ever taught in while in the UK has done this. (25 years).

They go into the PM session to claim the correct attendance and then off home.

IME communication between home and school for general info like this in secondary is piss poor.

Such a change from primary school where you see teachers on a daily basis

I found yesterday out my DD (also yr7) finishes at 12:45 tomorrow. Term dates just said end of term 17 Dec. No info about whether the public bus she catches will be running at the appropriate time and come via the school as it normally does at 3:30.

My DD told me about the early finish, but knew nothing about buses. Her primary school never finished early on the last day of term, so I wasn't expecting it.

I will be working when she finishes school, so I have told her if the bus doesn't come, she will have to walk down to the main road and catch the next bus home. I'm sure she will get home OK, but I will be worrying about her.

I am a secondary school teacher and we always finish about lunchtime on the last day of term after the carol service at the church in the town centre. The boys are all dismissed from there and it is a really nice end to the term. This year I am a Year 7 tutor and most of my form are going to the cinema, or bowling together then will be going home. Could your DS perhaps do something with a class mate - maybe at their house if you are worried about him being alone all that time?

I wish we finished at lunchtime. I will have an hour and a quarter with my form, who won't want to be there, and neither will I. No work will be done all day (except with my year 13s who will be working hard). So wishing for snow...

Agree a lot of them willbe doing something together. DS and a load of other kids will be getting the train to the next town and going to the cinema.

Do youknow the mums of any of his friends? Maybe he could go to their house?

OP, can you make him some food to be there and waiting, and would he watch a DVD for a while?
My DS's school uses yearly planner, website and I had a parentmail yesterday to remind me they finish early.