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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:
edwinbear · 12/04/2016 22:35

I'm all for children having some responsibility, ds (Y2) is a playground buddy, there are also 'playground equipment monitors', 'library book monitors', 'register monitors' and I believe 'assembly chair monitors' in his year. They are all very proud to be be chosen and take their roles very seriously, but they are 10 min jobs. There would be a mutiny if half the year were expected to give up their lunchtime football game, every day, for an entire half term. I wouldn't be happy at all.

FelicityR313 · 12/04/2016 22:40

This will seriously backfire on the school. For one, children are not stupid and know when they're being exploited. They see their pals playing while they're carrying out equipment? Lol. Secondly, the children on duty won't have had any downtime, therefore their concentration will be affected. Finally, there are any amount of safeguarding issues not being addressed here (potentially heavy lifting, unsupervised small children in the toilets together etc. etc. etc.). No way on earth would my child be allowed to participate in this lunacy.

merrymouse · 12/04/2016 22:44

You should certainly complain if your DD isn't getting lunch time play time for 6 weeks. However, I would check exactly what is supposed to happening incase there have been crossed wires.

As others have said, it would be more usual for children to have this kind of responsibility a few times a term or as a 5-10 minute job before having a proper amount of play - not instead of play for six weeks.

FelicityR313 · 12/04/2016 22:46

merrymouse I agree. This must be either crossed wires or a wind-up.

RunswickBay · 12/04/2016 22:51

This sounds daft. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate and don't need this too

FelicityR313 · 12/04/2016 22:52

Back in the year dot, our teachers gave us chores dependent on how disruptive or bored we were lol. So, the lad who couldn't sit still was given the coveted task of cleaning the blackboard. It kept him amused and out of trouble and he was envied by all. If you had your work finished before everyone else, you got the job of collecting books. I actually think our teachers were brilliantly progressive years ago. Before SN assistants, teaching assistants or anything like it.
I genuinely do not envy teachers. But this suggestion is ludicrous.
It's inhumane!

NewLife4Me · 12/04/2016 23:02

Sounds like they have lost a mid day assistant or two.
Which poster was it who said the dinner ladies will be teaching further maths next Grin?

yes, a bit of responsibility one day a week for a few weeks, but this is ridiculous.

Boiing · 12/04/2016 23:09

I'm glad you're going to talk to the Head. You might want to point out that if she was 17 and at work, it'd be illegal to give her a lunch break of only 20 minutes (has to be at least 30 mins). Is the school saying that a 9 year old in primary education should have a shorter lunch break than the legal minimum for a 17 year old in work? If she says its teaching the kids something, then point out that is what lesson time is for. I'd go ballistic with the head to be honest and threaten press coverage unless they get back in their box.

FelicityR313 · 12/04/2016 23:12

newlife4me - sounds like they've lost their minds lol!

I'm with Boiing on this.

TwoLittleBlooms · 12/04/2016 23:21

This is very out of order. Tell them you refuse to give permission for your daughter to be forced to give up her lunch time to do work that the teachers/assistants ought to be doing. Have you spoken to other parents? Could a few of you put in complaints? They need down time/play time like every other child - there is enough pressure on them already with tests, etc. Let the teachers give up their lunchtime to take the younger children to the bathroom - after all that is not the responsibility of a 9 year old child.

mmgirish · 13/04/2016 01:57

I teach Year Four. I would never allow the students in my class to be allocated 'jobs' every day like that. The children are supposed to be running, shouting and playing at break times and generally having a break so they can come back into the classroom and concentrate. I would imagine the the afternoon sessions are going to become a lot less academically productive during this period.

MidniteScribbler · 13/04/2016 02:01

It's inhumane!

Whilst it does seem like a silly plan, could we perhaps settle down a bit? She is not being flogged or made to work on a chain gang. She's been asked to put out some gear (probably lego, trains, etc) and help play with the younger students. There's not need to call the United Nations just yet.

TheSultanofPingu · 13/04/2016 07:59

I'm a midday supervisor in a junior school.
I do think that giving up the whole of lunchtime every day for the next six weeks does sound extreme. As mmgirish said, they need to be running around letting off steam.

I don't agree with posters who are suggesting it's a way to save money by reducing staff though. In our school some of the upper juniors arrange and play games with the younger ones (voluntary). We also have family dining, where children take it in turns to serve lunch. Some parents aren't particularly happy with the family dining though, suggesting it's a way to reduce staff. It most certainly isn't!

diddl · 13/04/2016 08:01

Putting a bit of equipment out for younger kids OK imo-something that can be done quickly & easily & then that's the job finished.

southeastastra · 13/04/2016 08:02

we technically you could call the as in the UN rights of the child, there is an article stating that children have a right to play..

southeastastra · 13/04/2016 08:04

Article 31

“That every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

annoyedofnorwich · 13/04/2016 08:18

Trinity- how horrible for the children not to have had a lunch break. Sitting in silence instead sounds great for them. Hmm Glad someone has seen sense and changed it. Too much sitting about goes on at schools and not enough moving. I'm surprised a teacher doesn't have a better understanding that children learn and develop by moving and doing, not sitting in silence.

Aeroflotgirl · 13/04/2016 08:21

No I woukd be very unhappy with this, don't they employ staff to to this, not free child labour. Fine once or twice a week, but every day, missing playtime, no! I would have a meeting with the HT and if lodge a complaint to LEA.

Original poster
StarOnTheTree · 13/04/2016 08:24

I'm going into school this morning to sort it out. The more that DD3 tells me the more cross I am. I thought she'd just be getting some small toys, etc. off some racks and handing them to the kids but it involves unlocking and opening and then closing and locking gates. She has to put her hands through the gates to get to the handle bit so not great with her floppy wrists. And then there's lots of equipment to get out. TBH she'd be happy to do any quick job as long as it didn't cause pain or contribute further to her chronic fatigue. It's the having to play with the little kids all lunch time that she's really not happy about it. I would have loved it at her age but she doesn't so she shouldn't have to.

She did volunteer to do this job once and moaned about it, but as she'd volunteered, it was once a week and for a limited time I told her that she just had to suck it up like we all do at times. So I'm not being PTB.

I'll update you all shortly Grin

OP posts:
RidersOnTheStorm · 13/04/2016 08:27

She doesn't want to, she just wants to play with her own friends.

But they'll all be doing their jobs, won't they?

Back in the 60s we did this as part of learning to help other people and act responsibly for our school community. Nothing to do with staff shortages. It's for six weeks and she won't be in a treadmill FFS.

RaspberryOverload · 13/04/2016 08:34

For those suggesting crossed wires, OP has spoken to the teacher, who confirmed this.

I'd be asking at the school for exactly what they are meant to be doing. If it is definitely the case that the children lose any chance to play, then I'd withdraw any permissions.

As others have said, ask for the risk assessments (bet there are none).

While I agree it's good to teach children responsibiity, if this is the aim at this school, then it's a poorly thought out scheme.

I've worked through lunch breaks before, but I'm an adult. Children need a break to play, etc.

AugustaFinkNottle · 13/04/2016 08:38

It seems mad to give Year 4 children responsibility for locking and unlocking gates. Surely it's a matter of time before one forgets to lock up and younger children take advantage of it?

my2bundles · 13/04/2016 08:43

This is ridiculous, back n the 80 s I had a role as dinner monitor but I still got at I east 20 minutes play as well. It's good to teach responsibility but not at the cost of. Childs down time.

Original poster
StarOnTheTree · 13/04/2016 09:06

Well I spoke to the teacher again and the details are exactly what DD3 had told me. This is something that the year 5s do but the year 4s are doing it this term in preparation for year 5 Hmm

The teacher said that she'd already had a think and realised that the jobs are unequal so she's going to swap the jobs around weekly so that 'working' for the full lunch time will only happen for 1 week. Some other weeks will include 15 minute jobs and then time to play. Only half the class is doing it this half term and then the other half next half term so still plenty of kids to play with.

She reiterated that they HAVE to do these jobs. She said that DD3 will always be working with a partner so she can ask her partner to do stuff that she struggles with. But I know that if the other child won't do it DD3 will do it anyway regardless of any pain that it causes.

So the situation is better than it was but I still feel uncomfortable with it. Just out of interest how many of your DC school do something similar, i.e. mandatory jobs for 50% of all lunchtimes for year 5 children?

OP posts:
Original poster
StarOnTheTree · 13/04/2016 09:11

The gates that she has to unlock are in the school grounds so no DC can escape though they do occasionally try to get over the fence

OP posts:
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