School is a very inconvenient form of 'childcare'

[naty1]

The hours just dont match for 9-5 working. Then the holidays are much longer, and everyone at work wants those same days.

I can see that nursery 8-6 is much easier for work, everyday except xmas week.
Or more jobs that fit school hours.
Compress the hours into fewer says of the week

badvoc that needs to change then.
Why should the two be mutually exclusive?
All childcare providers are expected to provide an educational element. Good childcare is very important for children's development and for the national economy.
There is no good reason why schools shouldnt be a part of looking after children in a way that supports a childcare principle.

Superb post noodle

The school hols are insanely long.
Impossible from a childcare point of view and with very young children its not actually beneficial to them imho. There is a lot of hanging about, being shipped to different childcare providers and not mixing with their friends.

No sahps don't "contribute" because they are not paying tax. And unless they're offering childcare for others to do so, there isn't a benefit to society. But there is a benefit to their own children. Which is a good thing.

school is for educating children whilst caring for them.

I'm not allowed to go into school to provide care for my child whilst the teacher is teaching. I am not allowed to care for my own child at home without being fined by the LEA (unless they are ill or I also take on the role of educator). Part of their role is therefore childcare.

It is merely semantics, quibbling about the hours of "childcare" education holding pens that need to be provided in a modern environment which is very different to the earlier days of education when people had the sort of families and support that allowed for schools to have 9-3 hours.

I was lucky- we were financially sound enough for me to be a SAHM til my lovely girls went to secondary - others are not able to do so

If school is not childcare, who exactly is providing care for my child in my absence? As others have said - childcare and education are linked (pre-school and school)

We are lucky that our school offers before and after school care 4 days / week. But nothing in the holidays, and this summer was a real mishmash which unsettled the dc. They seem a lot happier back

.. back at school. I really like a pp's suggestion of school in the morning and sport / other activities in the afternoon. Most children learn better in the morning anyway and with all afternoon there could be trips off site to local swimming pool, woods etc.

I read a reply from a teacher some months ago to a similar post; she suggested that parents drop their children off at the school on their way home from the maternity unit, and called by again 18 years later to receive them back, fully formed.
Seems this would suit a lot of parents here.

How stupid.

I'm just not sure any of the suggestions take into account the needs of the children tbh.
I hear a lot about the needs of the parents, the needs of the teaching staff etc.
Where do the best interests of the child come in? :(

goblin what a crock of shit.

Lots of the posts take into account the interests of the children.

Besides, the fact is that ppl need to and are expected to work. Children are a part of a family. The solutions need to work for families.

Goblin why is it wrong for working parents to be concerned about the quality of childcare (I mean the wraparound bit) and in trying to solve the tiring and disruptive day millions of children have to endure why is it wrong that we consider all the options including a change in school days or terms or even the whole concept of school and childcare being two separate entities.

I think comments like goblin made come from an attitude of some ppl that teachers are "above" providing childcare. Its seen as demeaning. And its hard to move forward with creative solutions when an attitude becomes fixed in this way.

"Im not just here to look after your kids. What i do is much more important"

But that ignores the importance of children having a day that benefits them overall

But schools and childcare should be separate!
Schools are there to educate!
Yes, of course teachers are in loco parentis but I have started a couple of threads on mn over the years about me being unhappy with aspects of schools care and have been flamed and told unequivocally that teachers are not there to "care" for my child the way I would and Aibu to expect them to!
Also, the whole in loco parentis thing was more for children who were sent away to school (boarders) than state school kids so it's a bit of a misnomer really.
I have no idea what the solution is for working parents.
I would say it starts with employers being more flexible.
More flexible parental leave.
Making childcare more affordable....the costs are eye watering and the reason I became a sahm.
Maybe making volunteer run crèches easier to set up?...I tried a couple of years ago in our church hall and the red tape made it impossible.

Why should they be separate?
Why not offer good childcare within a school building? There is no logic in insisting children leave the building to attend an interim abode. Schools should take an interest in the issue. Its important.

It is, but teachers will not do it and resent the implication that they should.
(If my experiences are anything to go by)
The primary my ds2 goes to shut it's pre school 18 months ago.
I'm not sure about changing the school hols.
I would agree that the summer hols are too long.
4 weeks is long enough.
But where would the other 2 weeks be added on?
Or would they?

Yes badvoc
But nobody is asking teachers to do it. Schools are not staffed just with teachers. Schools have buildings and budgets and are communities with access to different staff.

It is not in the best interests of many children to be in a school building from before 8am until gone 6pm.

School buildings are often shite with little green space,poor lighting,poor ventilation and frankly not designed to care for kids 10 hours a day.

Sorry why should schools take an interest in this issue?Providing education during the hours of 9-3.30 are the only issues I'm interested in hard pressed schools spending time and resources on.

Oh and re your sahp don't contribute because they don't pay tax quip actually families with a sahp do contribute and do pay tax.

Compressed hours would be far better for all and children in particular.

Why do they need to be added on?
Who needs 12 or so weeks holiday a year?

Ours provides fab wrap around but not all kids want to stay.I have several friends who use alternative provision because their dc don't want to be on the school site for hours a day.

Teachers and many kids need 12 weeks a year.My dc certainly do.

Children do! I'd hate for the summer holidays to be shortened, they whizz by so fast as it is

I agree.
My kids need those holidays.
They are utterly exhausted by end of each term.
I would be very unhappy at my child being in school - wrap around care or whatever you call it - from 8-6 every day.
It's an old victorian building.
No grass, a concrete playground.
Cold in winter, too hot in summer.
They are there long enough!
Schools are not designed to be used for childcare. They are designed to educate.

Well there are plenty of crappy schools, thats true enough

Seagulls...it wasn't a quip!
It was me quoting a govt minister!
I have been a sahm for 11 years.
I am my mothers carer (saving sainted taxpayers £££££ in care fees) and do voluntary work too.
But...I contribute nothing to society according to IDS (and many MNers, sadly)