To not want schools to give up summer holidays

[littleblackdress04]

Just read in papers that it’s been proposed that kids go back to school in July/ August

I think this is a rubbish idea - if it’s going to be that long then just let them have a ‘normal’ summer and go back in September.

Kids have been cooped up because of this- I’d want to take mine to the hills, go camping & let them have some freedom. Then start school in September. This isn’t a holiday for them - it’s a horrible stressful period of being cooped up & not being able to live their normal lives.

While school gives a structure and is important, so are proper periods of holiday.

I’m really against the idea but aibu? Be interested to hear other thoughts. I’ve not been particularly worried about the kids education- they will catch up in time and it will be fine

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 Which European countries do you mean?

Germany rotates by state so their six weeks can be beginn mid June and end beginning of August or begin in August and end mid September.

Most Southern European states have the whole of July and August off as it is too hot otherwise.

@hoppit that’s so true, It’s bad enough that teachers get so much abuse, but to begin to lay into TAs, cleaners and office staff, many of who are on minimum wage is just ridiculous.

TAs are paid 9-3 and not for their lunch hour. Many of them are working 8-6 with key worker children - just one day in the hub is the equivalent to 2 days wages.

@Beebie2 I still believe for a children commissioner it is sad that she thinks it is better to be in school than at home having holidays.

I feel it is sad that she thinks teacher have nothing better to do than do a Summer school and learn, catch up and socialise still sounds like school. Especially in secondary schools there is hardly playtime anymore anyway.

Schools go back here in August anyway so I'm all for it for us

We’re both still working and the kids have whilst at home, so they will enjoy some holiday time. Could be a bit shorter but not gone entirely

OMG, what horrible comments.

The woman who lives a few doors down from me, goes out everyday, to teach.
Her own children are living with grandparents close by, whilst she looks after the children of Key workers.
She waves to her young family every night, she can't kiss or cuddle them.
Ok she's lucky to have childcare to enable her to do this, but she looks absolutely drained and scared to death.
I hold her in such respect and all the other key/essential workers who are putting their own lives at risk for us.
teachers get such flack and it's bloody ridiculous, most born out of jealousy because they think the life of a teacher is so easy.
I have also H.educated, but I didn't blame the teachers for the nc, government policies or anything else that was out of their control.
I'm sorry teachers on here have to listen to such rubbish for the wonderful job you are doing, whether you are at school, or working from home.

Well based on the fact that we don't actually get paid for the holidays and the fact that I'm currently still working at home and on a rota to be in school and I'm working through the easter holidays then I would actually like some work free time thanks.

@Appuskidu Scottish term is broken up with September long weekend . So back mid August . Long weekend in September and October week off usually second week in October .

We have a uk holiday booked in July and if we can go, we will. Our schools go back end of August anyway so I assume it will be as normal.

Or those parents who want / need children to be anywhere but home could put them out to work instead. How about down mines? Up chimneys?

Don't be daft kids are too obese to go up chimneys, they are grossly over fed .
They could be the fruit pickers whilst their parents worked though,
It was good enough during the war, schools could be kept closed and those not needing childcare could keep their kids safe at home, rather than being damage collateral for wealthy families with two incomes. ids would turn out to school and be told they were potato picking, or fruit picking. Look at farmer Grant, in Scotland.

I said it earlier but it makes sense to do this IF it looks like another long lockdown is coming in the autumn term.

If the autumn term is also going to be cancelled from Oct-Nov for the second peak then we will have to make the most of the few months of freedom we have, that will include holidays but also includes trying to get some learning in for children.

Of course any extra work should be paid. I’m a key worker and my child is in over Easter when she would normally be in school. It’s a private school and one of the first things I asked was how to pay for the extra weeks.

The one thing I am sad about tho is that as well as the children whose parents can’t or won’t teach them at home, key workers children are also not being taught. Mine is at school all day mainly playing on her own 2m from anyone or watching TV as it’s not fair to “teach” her as those at home aren’t being taught, the older kids have work to do in their own but at 3yrs mines to small to direct herself. She only little and too tired to study when she gets home. It’s very hard to leave her knowing that she is getting almost no interaction all week and is getting behind her class in then”home learning” - I got told off by her teacher for not submitting her phonics assessments by email, no idea when I’m supposed to do them with her and she can’t do them on her own. I imagine a lot of key workers must feel the same, This isn’t sustainable long term as key workers will have to stop work to teach their own children as they are not getting taught at school (which I understand) but aren’t at home to be taught their either.

All our holiday is cancelled in the nhs and I have been moved to work in a different place (not just ward a whole different location and employer). No idea what my pay has changed to and no idea when I will be paid. All home time is spent watching online lectureS on how to treat this thing and sourcing ppe from weird locations and some guiltily mumsnetting while the small works through the above phonics app. It’s shit for everyone but hopefully after this peak we can figure out a new normal. It is however going to have be very Different to previous.

And for all the jokes on here about kids picking fruit and “enforced labour” if we have a global food crisis to follow the global health crisis as happened in WW11 then as happen then national mobilisation including children to get a harvest in may well be needed if we want to eat this winter

Cut the school holidays down to 4 weeks. A fair compromise.
From my own experience, this is weeks of my son doing very little, as he struggles to access mainstream curriculum and I am not a trained teacher or support assistant. He's not in school and not in the school mindset.

@OnTheMoors

As long as you pay teachers to work those 2 weeks extra

Cut the school holidays down to 4 weeks

Hell no. School holidays should be longer, absolutely not shorter.

Seashells- you will be getting your holiday back though, by having alternative days/weeks off when term restarts. So it’s a pain, to be working when you didn’t expect to, but you won’t be either out of pocket or short on holiday in the long run.

Teachers and unions are (rightly ) insisting on being paid for work during easter holidays or alternate holiday provision. I don’t think this is publicised enough. They are not working unpaid. They will be banking their holidays to take in lieu when term restarts. It’s important that we understand this.

OnTheMoors
Cut the school holidays down to 4 weeks. A fair compromise.

How is this a compromise?

How on earth can teachers have time of in lieu?
It just is not possible.

Teachers and unions are (rightly ) insisting on being paid for work during easter holidays or alternate holiday provision. I don’t think this is publicised enough. They are not working unpaid. They will be banking their holidays to take in lieu when term restarts. It’s important that we understand this.

I work in a school but am not a teacher. I can assure you I am not being paid for working over Easter or being given time off in lieu. Neither are my colleagues.

No one at my school is being paid extra for holiday working, nor having time off in lieu. Where do you get these things from!

Yanbu. I’m still working full time and have leave booked for August. If we are allowed any travel in I want to go away. I want to see my family in the West Country for a start and we all need a break from this madness

Teachers and unions are (rightly ) insisting on being paid for work during easter holidays or alternate holiday provision. I don’t think this is publicised enough. They are not working unpaid. They will be banking their holidays to take in lieu when term restarts. It’s important that we understand this.

None of the staff in the last two schools I worked in are being paid for working Easter, nor will they get the time in lieu.

Giving them time in lieu simply won't work. Once school goes back they'll all be needed in their full time roles.

Unions are advising that schools give teachers pay or toil for Easter working. That isn’t happening in most schools round here. Teachers have just been rotad on over Easter.

A lot of this hinges on parents wanting school to fit in with their working life. They forget that their kids are entitled to weeks off and a long break in the summer. The same people that would have been upset to lose these holidays as kids and teens themselves are happy to do away with them for their own children if it makes their lives easier.
190 days education.. which unfortunately has to be provided to do at home under the circumstances.

None of the teachers and TAs I know of are being paid for Easter. Some are taking days off when not on rota though my experience of this is that at some point during those days they ares till checking emails and responding to pupil home learning, even if it's just a like.