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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DD3 (9) having no lunch time play for 6 weeks

210 replies

StarOnTheTree · 12/04/2016 17:41

DD3 was really upset after school because every lunch time for the next 6 weeks half of the year 4s have to do jobs on a lunch time, generally looking after the younger kids, cleaning tables, etc. Her job is to get the equipment out in the playground and play with the little kids. She doesn't want to, she just wants to play with her own friends.

I spoke to the teacher who said that they HAVE to do these jobs and if they don't like what they're doing they can swap if another child agrees. Next half term the other half of year 4 will do it instead and then they'll carry on like this in year 5.

If it was just one day a week I wouldn't have a problem with it but every day other than eating lunch DD3 has to 'work'. AIBU to think that this is totally out of order?

OP posts:
TitaniumSpider · 12/04/2016 18:11

I wonder why they have picked the year 4s, I'd have thought they would get the year 6 children to do it as they are the oldest in the school. One day a week seems fine to me but every day is over the top IMO.

sepa · 12/04/2016 18:12

Ragwort - I too worked through my lunch break at work without the choice of it but I'm old enough to agree to it begrudginglyand I don't then go home to do homework. In year 4 they are about 7 right?

Mistigri · 12/04/2016 18:12

I think, OP, my first line of protest would be to ask whether there had been any health and safety evaluation of young children getting out equipment (surely something a TA or lunchtime supervisor would normally do) and leading play activities with younger children.

I would also ask about insurance cover, if your child were involved in, or caused an accident, while "working". Do that in writing, and wait for the reaction ... ;)

Original poster
StarOnTheTree · 12/04/2016 18:14

It's not hard labour.

So the teachers could do it then! 20 minutes for lunch and then back out to play with all the lovely children in the playground. No? Why not? It's not hard labour!

OP posts:
Lilaclily · 12/04/2016 18:14

Year 4 is 8-9 years old

The year 6s are probably cooking the school dinners Grin

diddl · 12/04/2016 18:15

They have to do these jobs?

Wonder what would happen if parents said no, or took the kids out/home for lunch?

Mishaps · 12/04/2016 18:16

I can see that it has some value in terms of learning caring skills and a sense of responsibility, but every day is daft. Perhaps the children could do this on a rota, then it would only arise once or twice a term maybe.

Original poster
StarOnTheTree · 12/04/2016 18:19

Thanks for the flowers Leta I'm having a really stressful time at the moment and this is just one more thing that needs sorting out!

Year 6s will be doing their SATS shortly so I can see why they're not doing it. I am wondering why not the year 5s but maybe they're doing it too.

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AhHaaaaa · 12/04/2016 18:19

I can't see why the school can't rota it so its one year group a day, rather than blocks of 6 weeks, that just seems extreme

Fratelli · 12/04/2016 18:21

They take the younger ones to the toilet Shock that's ridiculous! Definitely refuse permission!

SavoyCabbage · 12/04/2016 18:26

At my dd's school, which was abroad, there was only one teacher on duty at a time in a school of nearly 700 doc with quite a large outdoor area. There was also two year 5/6 dc 'on duty' too but each child would only be doing this once every couple of weeks. They had to do a day of training.

QuestionableMouse · 12/04/2016 18:29

I think it's wrong. Playtime should be playtime.

ChopOrNot · 12/04/2016 18:30

I think it would be fine if one or two lunch breaks a week. And the idea is a good one in trying to build empathy, kindness, helpfulness, responsibility. But not every day. Children need to run around (Childhood obesity crisis anyone?)

I did wonder if the new living wage has hit the school's salary bill a bit too hard and they have had to cut back - but you say it was a previous group of Y4s doing it last term. Still maybe that though. Yes they should all take turns - but surely there are better ways.

I would have a chat with the school. Firstly find out the true situation - your DD may have got her wires slightly crossed or got herself unnecessarily in a tizz about it (my DD and her friends have certainly come home from school in a tizz about something totally unfair Mummy which when I investigate is not quite as she thinks (eg not every day/would only take 5 min).

If it is as she say then yes, I would refuse.

Original poster
StarOnTheTree · 12/04/2016 18:34

You could be right ChopOrNot It's starting now so this is the first half term. And I didn't quite believe it when DD3 told me so I checked with the teacher

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DoreenLethal · 12/04/2016 18:42

Her job is to get the equipment out in the playground and play with the little kids.

A - is she earning NMW for this job?
B - is she DBS checked before playing with the little kids and taking them to the toilet?

asks those questions innocently and waits for the head's response

JokesLOL · 12/04/2016 18:51

I think it's a bit much too. Surely it's better for them to run around with their friends. No problem if I was once a week for a while but not every day.

Smartiepants79 · 12/04/2016 19:02

Some of the responses here are nonsense. Of course she's not being paid its teaching some responsibility. And she is a child herself, she doesn't need a dbs.
However, I agree that every lunchtime for 6 weeks is far too much. How big is the school? How many in the year? That's potentially a lot of kids all doing jobs.
We have the older kids doing jobs for [some] of their lunchtime. And for a [maximum] of once a a week.
I don't think a session of say 20 mins once a week (at the most) is any issue.
I have to say we partly do this to try and address behaviour issues in one particular year group. They need more structure, it works ok.
Do school know about her medical issues?
The school have not handled this well and I doubt you are the only annoyed parent.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 12/04/2016 19:03

I think that is really out of order and I would go in and speak to the head. Kids need free 'play' time and time to mix with their peers.

DoreenLethal · 12/04/2016 19:09

Of course she's not being paid its teaching some responsibility. And she is a child herself, she doesn't need a dbs

It is called 'taking it to it's logical conclusion'. In order to challenge the Head into seeing that this is utterly ridiculous.

Original poster
StarOnTheTree · 12/04/2016 19:10

20 minutes once a week would be fine or 1-2 lunchtimes per term.

It's a small school, just one class in each year group so 30ish children.

The school does know about DD3's health issues and the teacher that I spoke to and who allocated the jobs has asked my advice because it seems that her grandchild has similar symptoms as DD3 Hmm

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PheasantPluckerToADegree · 12/04/2016 19:11

I agree with posters above - this is unreasonable. Are you able to talk to any other parents of kids in your child's year and find out if they agree too? If you can get enough of you to complain (or even put a petition together) then the school will have to rethink. Or suggest a rota of some sort. It's a great idea to get the older kids to help the younger ones, but expecting them to give up their break time every day for 6 weeks is taking it a bit far IMO.

Mummydearest85 · 12/04/2016 19:11

I wouldn't want my child working during lunch time. It's too much. I already hate how much homework they get, nevermind loosing their lunch break too. Why are the dinner ladies and teachers not doing this? Isn't this what they're paid to do?!

Ashhead24 · 12/04/2016 19:18

My school used to get yr9s to set out the chairs for assemblies every day in 6 week blocks like this. I used to take one chair and wander around the hall with it until we were done. Not my job, as I told anyone who asked. And since I was the only well behaved child in my class I think everyone was taken aback and left me to it.

I objected to being used as free labour at 14, and there's no way an 8 year old should be forced to work through her lunch break so the school can save a few pounds. Speak to the school, if that fails see if her friends are willing to protest with her against this. Otherwise she can wander around with one piece of equipment until it's done.

MrsHathaway · 12/04/2016 19:25

My DCs' school has "play leaders" in a school the same size. Each child only does once a week.

I think that job is fair, but the others aren't. If the children weren't doing adult jobs, there would be more of them to share the children jobs more fairly.

Original poster
StarOnTheTree · 12/04/2016 19:26

I wish DD3 was more of a rebel at school! Instead she saves all her assertiveness for me!! There's no way that she would disobey a teacher.

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