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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To object to this policy?

62 replies

Skullyton · 17/09/2015 10:23

This year the school have introduced a policy that if the children don't read at home at least 3 times a week they will lose their play time!

Now, i read to my two every night, and they always take turns to read me a page of whatever story we've picked, but i can be forgetful about remembering to record it in their reading diaries, DS has significant disabilities and SEN and remembering to write what he read that night is really somewhat low on my list of priorities, and he cant write it in himself.

AIBU to think this policy is unfair. The school know me, he's in yr 4 now, they KNOW we read EVERY night (part of his routine so i couldn't stop if i wanted) and his reading level, despite his SEN is actually 2yrs ahead of his peers!

He also has it in his IEP that they are not allowed to remove his break time or they have to offer an alternative movement break.

DD (yr2) is not covered by that, but is equally at risk of me not writing in her planner.

I really object to this policy, its not fair to punish the children for their parents failures!

OP posts:

bettyberry · 17/09/2015 11:55

I'd bugger this up. My DS constantly forgets his reading record and/or his reading book. SO he would be missing playtime constantly. Not through poor parenting but his SEN/SN and complete lack of organisation.

PetraDelphiki · 17/09/2015 11:57

Just fill it in for 3 random days/books at the start of the week and be done with it!

zeezeek · 17/09/2015 12:03

Then there's all the extra time that teachers will have to spend checking, chasing up and then missing their own break times to stay in with children...

Yeah. Brilliant idea. Like someone else said it sounds like the madness of someone with a degree in management from a polytechnic!

Goldmandra · 17/09/2015 12:10

Just fill it in for 3 random days/books at the start of the week and be done with it!

I wouldn't even make it random days.

I would write in Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday every week, the same number of pages every time. It would be obvious that you were treating their box ticking exercise as just that and prioritising meeting the needs of your children.

minionmadness · 17/09/2015 12:19

The school will have a very good idea of the children who's parents never read with them. Surely their time would be better spent helping those dc rather than some blanket policy that pisses off the parents who do (or maybe genuinely forget on the odd occasion).

Clearly the parents who don't care about reading with their dc won't take any notice anyway.

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 17/09/2015 12:56

It makes children think of reading as a chore rather than something to do for pleasure. And unfairly penalises those children whose parents can't/don't/won't read with them. Unless the lost playtime is spent reading to an adult there's zero benefit. And even then, children need time to play!

starlight2007 · 17/09/2015 13:17

We have a similar scheme in our school which means if they don't read 4 times a week then homework doesn't get signed off.. More reward more time you do homework.

My Ds is a bookworm and reads constantly but I simply make sure he has enough entries in his book. I also know parents who simply divide up the reading there child has done over 4 nights so homework is signed off.

However ours sounds slightly better as at least it is reward for doing it not punishment for not.

The parents who don't care or can't find 5 minutes to listen to their child is no more likely to care.

The only way I can see it working is if the children who haven't read are kept into read ( that would only take 5-10 minutes of break) At least it would help them catch up with what other children have done..

The reading records themselves drive me mad though ... this is for OFSTED..It in no way helps children to learn to read better.

TeenAndTween · 17/09/2015 13:26

At our school, children who read 4 times at home get entered into a raffle to win a book, 1 winner per class per week. So a carrot approach, rather than a stick.

Nanny0gg · 17/09/2015 17:13

At our school, children who read 4 times at home get entered into a raffle to win a book, 1 winner per class per week. So a carrot approach, rather than a stick.

Which will have no effect on the parents who 'haven't got time'/can't be bothered.

I hate rewards for children when it's outside their power to earn them.

(100% attendance awards etc)

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 17/09/2015 17:25

"Here you go children from naice families, have another book to go next to the ones your involved parents buy you.

"The rest of you? Well because you have shit parents we're going to be horrible to exclude you from something that might make a difference to your life."

Shitty.

TeenAndTween · 17/09/2015 17:25

Nanny It might not have effect for some, but it does have effect for others. Also for children who are slightly reluctant but like to be in with a chance. And the children can read to themselves and ask parent to initial the planner on the Friday. So I think it has helped more children read more regularly which is the whole point.
This isn't like attendance where family holidays and illness occur. This is about a child curling up and reading and then asking a planner to be signed. Yes some parent will still say they can't be bothered to sign it, but most won't.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 17/09/2015 17:28

"Oh and I know your mum has mental health issues and is just about keeping it together enough to send you in to school and your dad's who know where... but that's just tough sonny. No book raffle for you!"

"Jemima I know your dad has had a break down after your mum went into the hospice but he that's no excuse for not filling out the reading record. No play time for you!"

Goldmandra · 17/09/2015 17:59

Yes some parent will still say they can't be bothered to sign it, but most won't.

I wonder how many parents fall into the bracket that would make a bit more effort if their child might mis playtime. I suspect that this group is smaller than the one that contain parents who won't or can't change their behaviour and whose children end up suffering further.

How many children need to benefit in order for it to be acceptable to punish the ones whose parents don't care/can't cope?

Schools should think very carefully before implementing policies that risk further alienating those who are already likely to be disengaged from their or their child's education.

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 17/09/2015 18:03

On Sunday night fill in or sign the diary for the week...

Keep doing until they take the hint...

bettyberry · 17/09/2015 21:30

*I hate rewards for children when it's outside their power to earn them.

(100% attendance awards etc)*

have the attendance awards at our school. My DS will never ever win one due to Drs appointments. Even authorised absences are classed in the same boat as non attendance. Its not our fault his consultant paediatrician only works 3 days a week or the occupational therapist on works mon-fri 9-4:30.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 17/09/2015 21:37

I whole heartily agree with you, Moving. A lot of teachers don't know what children have to go through out of school hours. To penalise children for matters beyond their control and sometimes their parents control is an abuse of power. A child could be dealing with enough shit at home. They don't need it in school as well.
I, too agree with you Betty about the attendance awards. How dare a child have a medical condition.

bettyberry · 17/09/2015 21:38

TeenAndTween The % that dont/wont fill in the books aren't all uninterested in their child's learning.

no one has mentioned parents who for whatever reasons struggle with reading and writing themselves and just can't help their children.

People think in this country it doesn't happen but it does. I have a relative who cannot read due to dyslexia and the school he went to labelled him as 'bad' he is too embarrassed to even attempt to read with his kids.

Yes, there are free courses everywhere but getting over the embarrassment of not having the basic skills to actually attend can be immense. More so if they went through school being told they were Thick/useless/badly behaved/not academic etc

This policy penalises children and parents without the basic skills and for what? trying to get the one or two kids per class who never have their records signed because their parents cannot be arsed? There are better methods to deal with this.

exLtEveDallas · 17/09/2015 21:50

We've just started a similar ridiculous scheme at our school. Thankfully I've realised that DD only has to hand in the reading record once a week for the teacher to tot up the marks, so I've set up a phone alarm to remind me once a week (the night before) and I'll sign the thing 5 times then and be done with it. I know DD reads, and I'm happy with her progression (she's been a free reader for years) so she won't get anything extra out of this bollocks other than the "50 reads" "100 reads" badges that are going to be given out.

I like our school, but it's things like this and the bloody 'class attendance bear' that really grip my shit. Way to make those already struggling, struggle some more.

bigbluebus · 17/09/2015 22:02

What a ridiculous system. My DS would have constantly missed break times as he never read reading scheme books - he was already an able reader when starting school and rarely had a book out of his hands. I never bothered filling in his reading record - it was pointless.

I volunteer to listen to children read at a Primary school. Those who are known not to read at home are prioritised to read 1:1 with the volunteers and any staff who have the time. Pointless punishing the children.

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 17/09/2015 22:07

A dear friend has a good grasp of english, but struggles to read it, as phonetically she hasnt got the foggiest.

aprilanne · 17/09/2015 22:18

in scotland homework is not compulsary .yes they will go on at you but you dont have to ..i would have just reported head teacher straight to local authority if they had done this to my autistic son .i read to him every night .but because off his difficulties i refused to do homework when they tried to force it i just told them the education law in scotland .so no more problem .i just told them i would go above them and complain if they in any way punished him .

jeronimoh · 17/09/2015 22:24

Ofsted look at reading records?
How does that work then. Do they do a book bag inspection?

Goldmandra · 17/09/2015 22:51

How does that work then. Do they do a book bag inspection?

An inspector can look down a register, pick a name at random and ask to see anything to do with that child, a reading record, a maths book, a care plan perhaps or whatever else it took their fancy to ask for.

SurlyCue · 17/09/2015 23:00

Christ i think our school must be the most relaxed school of all MNers' schools going by what i read on here. kids get 3 books a week, they read some in school every day. parents are asked to listen to DC reading but no recording of it or page numbers etc. if you forget, you forget. I've lost count of the number of times i forgot to sign their homework books and never a word said about it.

cestlavielife · 17/09/2015 23:04

Ridiculous. .they should turn it around.they get sobering for doing it.
Not a negative thing if you don't.
They should have read the positive reward motivation book..

Kids who show evidence of reading 3 x per week will get certificate at end of term etc.

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