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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To rant and rave about the december day off school for Queens Jubilee

118 replies

campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:07

So my DDs school has announced that they are closing a day early for Christmas so the children can celebrate the Queens Jubilee... which is in frikkin JUNE!

It seems to have been decided that as the jubilee is during half term, an extra day needs to be awarded..

As someone who has planned child care for the whole of Christmas already I am pissed off to now have to somehow cover an extra day.

So come on... just how unreasonable am I being?

(bonus points for "School isn't free child care" and double points for "you choose to work as well as have children so suck it up")

OP posts:
531800000008 · 04/11/2011 13:13

YANBU

comedycentral · 04/11/2011 13:14

YANBU! I don't see how the school can justify this day off, have you thought of writing the LEA or your local counsellor explaining how you feel?

worraliberty · 04/11/2011 13:15

December? That's bloody odd Shock

But I suppose ranting and raving is a tiny bit unreasonable as you do have a month and a half notice.

I suppose whoever cares for her when she's ill will have to do it?

5Foot5 · 04/11/2011 13:18

YANBU - that is a bit off! Obviously nothing to do with "celebrating" the Jubilee (which I am all for BTW) but more to do with the teacher's feeling they would be missing out the extra Bank Holiday because they would be on holiday anyway.

Not sure what you can realistically do about it though. A pointed letter might make you feel better but will probably get you mnarked down as a trouble maker!

Unexpected INSET days always threw me

Gingefringe · 04/11/2011 13:18

Teachers Xmas shopping trips?

Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:19

She has never had a day off ill, she doesn't get ill. She has a childminder for some of the holidays and the rest of the time is divvied out bewteen family and me and my partner having a few days off each - It must be the same for a lot of families. Her child minder doesn't work on a wednesday otherwise i'd send her there - but that is a cost of £30 during the most expensive month of the year.

Finding an extra day when you're worked hard to plan all of that is just a pisser.

I think i will write to the local counceller yes, thanks.

OP posts:
Scholes34 · 04/11/2011 13:20

I'm sure campsiemum isn't so distraught as to need a counsellor. A letter to her councillor might be more appropriate, but an initial letter to the Chair of Governors is probably a better place to start, as the decision was probably made by the school.

Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:20

That's exactly it - teachers missing out on an extra day off. However, if you work in a part time job (which essentially they do) you don't get an extra day off if a bank holiday falls when you would normally not work - so what is the difference here!?

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Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:21

tee hee, thanks scholes Grin

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comedycentral · 04/11/2011 13:22

Just a simple spelling error Scholes Hmm

worraliberty · 04/11/2011 13:22

It's not the Council's decision

As Scholes said, it's down to the Governors.

Trills · 04/11/2011 13:24

Depends.

If they announced this holiday at the beginning of the school year with all the other holidays than YABU

If they have just now in November decided that there will be an extra day off in December, than YANBU

Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:24

Apparently, so the letter say, the council have called the school to advise they need to take an extra day and suggested that day should be taken on the 21st december.. .do we think this is bollocks then? I might call the council to see if it's true.

OP posts:
Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:25

Trills, the latter.

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Scholes34 · 04/11/2011 13:26

There is an extra bank holiday to take in this year, but it shouldn't have come as a surprise to the school.

EdithWeston · 04/11/2011 13:27

I thought that in state schools, the length of the school year was statutory - 190 days for pupils and 195 for teachers, and that term dates were worked out round Bank Holidays to ensure this was met.

I don't know what happened in practice round the Royal Wedding Bank holiday (as that was only announced during the school year). Anyone know?

Though I'm not sure if that should set a precedent for this, as the Jubilee Bank Holiday was announced ages ago. Even if an adjustment can properly be made, there's not reason for it to be done so late on.

Trills · 04/11/2011 13:27

Ignore the Jubilee bit, YANBU to be annoyed that they have declared an extra day off with not very much notice.

EdithWeston · 04/11/2011 13:28

just googled to check. The date of the additional Bank Holiday was announced in January 2010. Plenty of planning time!

handbagCrab · 04/11/2011 13:29

It'll be a national thing about the extra day. It may be local or school decision as to when that day's taken. We broke up a day early in July because we were off when the royal wedding was on, but not all schools were on holiday then, so some would have had an extra day off compared to the schools that were on holiday. Sorry it's messed up your childcare. Blame the government :)

MuddlingMackem · 04/11/2011 13:31

campsiemum

However, if you work in a part time job (which essentially they do) you don't get an extra day off if a bank holiday falls when you would normally not work

Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:31

Edith the royal wedding day was a national bank holiday taken on the actual day of the wedding. I have no objection to that.

If they want to make the day of the Queen's jubilee a Bank Holiday then fab. And as it's during half term even the children of parents who still need to work on a bank holiday (nurses/ police) etc won't be having any time off that they wouldn't usually have.

But to make it in december, 6 months early. and to make it right up against a hjoliday where working parents are already forking out for care, is just plain inconsiderate.

The person who mentioned teacher's shopping days had it spot on.

I might ask my boss if I can take the Jubilee day in December... hmm... sure that would go down well.

Kind of surprised to have not had to give any bonus points out yet Grin

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Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:32

Edith what, announced as the 21st december? was any one else aware of this?

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Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:33

Muddling I'm sorry but I work in employment and have done for many years and i can tell you that anywhere i have had dealings with just says "touch shit" not in so many words, if a bank holiday falls on your day off.

OP posts:
worraliberty · 04/11/2011 13:36
Grin
Original poster
campsiemum · 04/11/2011 13:37

That's the second spelling piss take on the thread - pedants are out in force today! Sorry to create that image for you though worral.

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