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

[StarOnTheTree]

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?

Why is she taking children to the toilet? The youngest children in our school go to the toilet by themselves from day 1 (unless they have a particular identified need that states they have to be accompanied). They know where the toilet is and they know what to do when they get there

Agree, you go in and say you do'nt give permission for your DD to do this, you are shocked (say shocked) and disappointed they didn't consider the impact of your DD's health issues on this, and you believe all children should have the opportunity to play at lunch breaks, and are very disappointed the school doesn't think that matters.

BTW - do the younger children's parents know their DCs are being supervised going to the toilet by other children? Has this been clearly spelt out that the school feel they need supervising, so can't just go by themselves, but that they are using other children to do that supervision.

I really dont see what on earth is wrong with giving children a bit of responsibility, its only for 6 weeks and you will find she will get a little bit of a break anyway.

Interestingly I just asked my DD in yr 3 about how this works at her school. She said the yr 6 kids have to accompany the reception kids to the loo. I'm flabbergasted. We were never made aware of this as parents. I think it's outrageous your DD has no spare time for the next 6 weeks. Fine if they are preparing for school plays or charity events or doing learning to care for others time but it doesn't sound like that. I would go and talk to the school. From what your dd has said it seems like cheap child slave labour and surely staff members should be doing the work. If she has understood correctly what she is meant to do, I wouldn't want my DD to be doing this either.

In terms of sheer practicality, how are they planning on getting all the year 4s through lunch in 20 minutes?? Even on priority lunch the queue could take that long when I was in primary.

Can i ask does your daughter have a lot of time off school? im just wondering if perhaps thats why she was given the job of taking the equipment out? because it was the last job?

As the mother of a Year 1 child I am very uncomfortable with the idea that a Year 4, 5 or 6 child could be taking my child to the toilet.

She can use a toilet alone. She does not need an audience. She has the right to privacy.

Will this toilet taking be supervised? What happens if a child is uncomfortable with it?

Lol! They're TAKING them to the toilet! Not standing there watching them with the door open or wiping their bums
Maybe yr children have been found wandering around the school lost and alone; maybe they are scared in the toilets if there are older children banging about; maybe they need reminding about washing their hands etc
And seriously if anyone thinks that staff are just sitting around while the children do the jobs....
I have to agree though that a six week stint is too much! Parents should explain that a fairer rota between the years would benefit everyone although the children themselves might find it harder to remember what they are supposed to be doing on a particular day.

I would have loved this! It would have been better for all us kids who were left out at playtime feeling like social lepers. But if your DD will be in pain from it then she should be excused.

Depends on the reason. My school had children doing 'jobs' to earn (plastic) money as part of their topic. At the end of the term they then had the chance to save some or spend the money on items from the 'shop'. Those that saved got the 'interest' on it and those that didn't do any 'jobs' had no money to spend. I would be enquiring why this is done.

It's only recently the pupils at the school I teach in had a lunch break, they would have lunch then go straight back to the classroom to sit in silence and read. Children don't 'need' a long lunch break, it only makes them hyper/hot/sweaty for the afternoon lessons IMHO.

Is this being sold to you as a playground pal or buddy scheme ? you can opt out any time
As for the toilet they may just be showing / reminding them where it is , however again volunteering
OFSTED expected soon ?

This is all seems very odd and makes no sense. Hope we get an update OP.

I was always lead to believe, that. It is an Ofsted requirement that children had play time.

It's important that they let off steam and it's also a good opportunity to make friends .would the teachers like to miss their dinner break

But it's not a logical conclusion.
It makes the person saying such things sound Silly.
It turns it into an overreaction that stops people (the head) listening to the actually very valid concerns about this issue.

would the teachers like to miss their dinner break

Most teachers I've ever worked with work through their lunch break.

Can we put to bed this persistent rumour that teachers have a lunch break?
If they are not actually on dinner duty they will either be marking, setting up for the afternoon or emailing parents etc while trying to eat some unappetising leafy salad. This is my school and we can't be the only one!

I'd just outright refuse permission for my child to be involuntarily roped into any of this sort of stuff. ifnthenachool can't afford the correct number of staff to sort out the jobs that need doing then their business manager needs retraining or their current staff need to reassess their divisions of labour.

Children need a break. Trinity your school appears to have allowed the children a break now, which is ace, because what you described as the previous lunchtime sounds fucking abysmal for a child, even if it did mean you enjoyed yourself.

You wouldn't work through your lunch at work- plenty of us do
I work in a school and do not get a lunch break. I often don't eat an actual lunch and don't get an opportunity for s break!

Back to the actual point.. I think it sounds totally unreasonable!!!

But it's not a logical conclusion.
It makes the person saying such things sound Silly.
It turns it into an overreaction that stops people (the head) listening to the actually very valid concerns about this issue.

Luckily, we all have different approaches, and although you might think it is silly, you are not the oracle and so do not determine how others would approach a situation. HTH.

There is absolutely NO way that I would accept this. It is too much responsibility, eating into their playtime and is essentially slave labour. No, no, no, no no fucking way.

And for the teachers complaining? You're adults! Most adults work through lunch. You don't expect a child to work through their play break!

Where are Dickens and Mr. Gradgrind when you need them.

I'm actually wondering, is this a wind-up?

When i was in school we had playgeound duty where we would play with the younger kids and supervise them but we only had to do it once a week as it was always swapped around.