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

To the poster complaining that teachers are being grated as dispensable. We are all dispensable unfortunately. No one is guaranteed a job.

All this bleating about what teachers are and are not paid for is showing their true colours.

This is a national emergency. Many are making sacrifices, giving their all and compromising.

Regardless of whether you are paid to work the summer break you are still being paid a full salary at the moment. Some teachers are working just as hard as normal, others are working even harder, some are not working at all (especially support staff). All are being paid a full salary. Consider yourselves lucky and consider for a moment giving a little extra.

I think the long summer holidays are a thing of the past. I don’t think they will exist in the post-Covid19 world.

I really can't see the Government making such a sweeping change to the education system in the current climate.

People who think it is just a quick change to make don't think through everything else that is affected by such a change.

And compared to the rest of the work, a 6 week summer break isn't long!

One of DH's 'friends' said to him last night on the phone 'Well you are all being paid for doing nothing at the minute so I can't see the problem with you teaching instead of the summer holidays. You are having those now on full pay.'
DH disagreed (at least that would be the polite way of describing what he said)
The 'friend' then said all the teachers he knows in Leeds are 'just decorating their houses, doing their gardens and sunbathing while parents are teaching their own kids'
DH was so angry at him. He told him he was 'talking out of his arse' and ended the call. I then listened to a rant about it all. There's a real thing at the minute about teachers doing nothing. It isn't true and it is not their fault there is a lockdown and children are in their own homes rather than at school.

@april so the nhs should be dictated to when they get their holidays but not teachers

I disagree @Saoirse7, you can't see why it looks like some rigid teachers on here look out of touch. I normally get a month off over Summer, I may not get that this yr because Sep is our busiest time of yr & we are behind as we can't wfh as efficiently. Will I get paid or time of in lieu? Who knows, at the end of the day I'm grateful to have a job & know that if I need medical care the NHS are there.

I have a holiday booked for May, it's really not top of my priority list whether I get to go or not.

How can the teachers get longer holidays in 2021/22? They don’t have annual leave like most people. They have their holidays at fixed times so how’s that supposed to work?

Some of the school holidays will be longer. The extra days worked this year will be added up and split across the school holidays in 2021/22. I’d assume a longer October half term - and possibly a longer Christmas/Easter break too.

It depends whether the government uses this as an opportunity to re-jig the academic year. The current summer holiday is in the wrong place - summer in the UK is June/July. But our summer holidays cover all of August for historic reasons - so that children were able to help with the harvest.

It's not just about teachers having to give up their holiday! As I've already mentioned, all sorts of organisations that are already on their knees will be hoping to make up for lost time during the summer. Schools that hire their buildings out will want that income, as will the holiday camp childcare companies, the childminders, the intensive tuition companies etc. PGL type companies will want to be open and specialist courses such as the National Youth Orchestra and similar schemes will want to run their residentials.

GCSE and A-level results are unlikely to be out at the end of July as originally stated - the latest announcement said the aim was to get them out by the time they were originally due (mid - end August). Without those results, sixth forms and colleges can't get started as 16-year-olds won't know which courses they can access. I can't see secondary schools wanting to run a school year from August to July for Y7 - Y11 but not have the Y12s start until a month later. And which school would the current Y6s attend? Returning for part of July, it would make sense for them to move straight up to Y7 on an extended transition for 2/3 weeks having given up any hope of end of primary rituals. Being at school throughout August then I guess they should return to primary but the expectation would be for them to have transition visits, Y6 productions etc. and I expect the Government would want some sort of baseline testing to predict their GCSE results from.

Whatever happens, the curriculum for the current Y10 and Y12 is going to need some serious planning to take account of lost time. It seems to me that it could be useful to have those year groups in school (if safe to do so) for a couple of weeks in July so schools and Ofqual can explore what needs to be done. Changes to courses, schemes of work, assessment etc can then be enacted during August, ready for a successful September start. Secondary teachers will end up having to do extra over August to be ready to teach a re-jigged curriculum but that is infinitely preferable to them and their students having no downtime between February and November.

My own DC, who are being neglected by their teacher parents as we do our jobs from home, are desperately hoping that our week away (that we booked in April 2018) on the south coast will happen. They want to see their grandparents (one of whom has been extremely ill in hospital) and the youngest wants to go to the countryside. DD1 wants to be able to have some fun and get her freedom back before the slog of Y11 starts - she's terrified that they'll be expected to fit the entire course into less time and that the next year is going to be grim. It will be if there's no hope of an actual break in August.

Not fair on the students and not fair on the teachers.
The way they've been treated in recent years, I'd be very surprised if there was any goodwill left towards the Government.

But our summer holidays cover all of August for historic reasons-so that children were able to help with the harvest

Not true-as I posted up thread.

My daughters secondary school have barely kept in touch throughout just sent them home with a workbook
I know a lot of teachers are on a rota so not doing a full weeks work.
I appreciate teachers are still working right now but definitely not to the normal degree if schools were open.
I think schools need to reopen around june otherwise kids will be so out of the routine that come September it will be a nightmare to get them back in a routine and education
Wise many will be really behind.

I can't see uk or overseas holidays being allowed this summer. Any opening of restrictions will be based on a combination of allowing the activities that are most important for the economy and those that allow social distancing. A concern for the government will be people travelling all over the country, gathering at tourist attractions and eating out. The areas that will open up will probably be things like manufacturing, construction and other jobs that can't be done from home rather than leisure.

I am not sure where this leaves schools. Possibly some (primary) may open or partially open to allow a wider swathe of people to return to work. This may be over the summer if a pay deal with teachers can be reached or in June with summer closures. I could see schools shutting again in the autumn when the second wave hits us.

I doubt it'll happen but if they want to open schools for childcare purposes, and teachers are happy with that ( which again I doubt), then why not? I won't be sending mine in. If we are out of lockdown I'll be taking mine to visit family and have our own educational experiences outside, not cooped up in a classroom.

Absolutely mad idea. Currently I'm barely seeing my family due to long shifts at work. I'm hoping by July I can have 2 weeks off to remember what they look like but not holding my breath. DH is a teacher working long hours from home as he is an at risk group so cant fo in. Kids years 12 and 9 are being set normal.lessons and home work on line so need a break. Im not actually sure the ruling rolling forward al applies to teachers as they have a very different employment contract to everyone else. What happens when they use their banked leave, who teaches the classes then. I have to say a week in September out side school holidays would be lovely time for DH to be off but no way will it happen. I'm getting a bit fed up with people like the OP assuming everyone is sitting at home drinking gin in the sun. If only. It's only the NON ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

@Saoirse7 I accept not all schools are the same but at my secondary only a tiny percentage of teachers are in school on a rota basis to support key workers children.

Of course it's not just about turning up. No one is saying is not a highly skilled job.

This comes down to how much you are prepared to give, sacrifice and compromise. Some people give much, others little. This thread gives the impression that many teachers are not prepared to give extra, their prerogative of course but does nothing for the reputation of the profession.

They are even turning away as many keyworker children as they can and the ones who they do have to take have not had any input at a

You do know that what is being provided is childcare and not education, yes?

Childcare is not education. Why would schools be actively teaching those in school new stuff knowing that they will have to repeat it for the majority of the class again at a later date? Our childcare is offering a range of activities but, as it's primary especially, there is a lot of play (you know that learn through play is actually a real thing in primary, yes?) a lot of craft, a lot of physical activities, story times and games online and off. They are also able to access the same home learning activities as those not in school via the iPads provided in the classroom - one allocated per child in at present to avoid transferring CV.

And that the teaching staff in are putting themselves out threes, out of the 'stay home' directive to provide this? And in their own holiday time?

Teachers and TAs may not be font line NHS but they are at greater risk working with children of key workers and mixing with the outside world every day they do so.

The social distancing with primary school aged children isn't easy at the best of times.

And we are allowing ANY parent who needs the childcare who is a key worker or any child who is vulnerable or has an education plan to access it. We haven't turned people away and we haven't allocated places beforehand. Following Government guidelines we have asked that parents only use the service if they really need to and that there is no one else at home to care for their children - this is as much to protect those children as it is to protect the staff.

And whilst your school might not be providing much as yet - not forgetting it is currently the Easter holidays - many schools are.

The government is not going to rejig the school year in the middle of a pandemic

To do that they'd have to work with teaching unions plus colleges and universities

It would be a massive undertaking and would take years of discussions and planning

The rolling forward of holidays was done to stop unscrupulous employers forcing their staff to work this year and then not allowing them to carry forward their holidays, and to encourage people to pitch in.

Not for a major shake up of the entire academic calendar

My daughters secondary school have barely kept in touch throughout just sent them home with a workbook

Perhaps you should query they directly with them, rather than assuming all schools are doing the same.

Some of the school holidays will be longer. The extra days worked this year will be added up and split across the school holidays in 2021/22. I’d assume a longer October half term - and possibly a longer Christmas/Easter break too.

I would be surprised if this happens.

It won't happen.
Next

Which bit of teachers are still working do some people not get!! In fact I've been in school more these holidays than ever before, not only to look after key worker children but also to set up remote learning for next term.
I don't why I read these threads as it just makes me and my profession feel completely devalued.
If we open schools during August (they already are open in July) when do teachers go on holiday!? Cos you can bet that for every family who wants to send their kids in there'll be another who goes on holiday or keeps their children off (and I wouldn't blame them).
These discussions and the resentment towards teachers are making me so cross. Another reason I'm quitting the profession I actually love.

Terrible idea, lockdown for people following the rules isn’t fun, we are stuck in our homes, no holidays, no time with friends and family.

All the teachers I know are still working either in school hubs or remotely from home. This lockdown IS NOT A HOLIDAY for anyone.

Children, teachers and parents all still deserve their summer holidays!

I hope this doesn't happen.

I don't feel it's fair on teachers who have continued working, many working during the Easter holiday. They deserve a break. There are children still attending school, they deserve a break too. Children who have had no access to outside space shouldn't have to go straight back to a classroom, they deserve time to visit parks, forests, beaches. Everyone deserves to spend time with their family who they haven't seen in ages!

Also, what is there to catch up on, really? All children are in the same boat. I'm sure there's a way of covering any important bits that have been 'missed' without sacrificing the summer holidays.

Im not actually sure the ruling rolling forward al applies to teachers as they have a very different employment contract to everyone else.

It is the law - you really think that it doesn’t apply to teachers?!

Their holiday in 2021/22 would be longer. But it would still be taken in the school holidays. Just there would be e.g. 15.5 weeks of holiday rather than 13.5 for those 2 years (assuming an extra 4 weeks of term time in 2020).

Tutors are still working their usual hours but online at home. They take their own leave over the summer period. I though most Teachers are doing the same.

This comes down to how much you are prepared to give, sacrifice and compromise. Some people give much, others little. This thread gives the impression that many teachers are not prepared to give extra, their prerogative of course but does nothing for the reputation of the profession.

I think that the issue with this statement is that teachers are ALREADY giving a lot, throughout a normal working year, when they work significant amounts of unpaid overtime to provide the required standard of education.

We did a calculation on my teacher friend's working hours (2nd year of teaching after qualifying, English) and she was barely earning minimum wage.

So just as we don't expect NHS workers to be doing all their overtime for free during this exceptional time, we probably also need to accept that we cannot ask teachers to add an extra 1/6th to their working year unpaid. That's not teachers failing to give, it's that they are already giving a huge amount (on average, of course there will be some teachers who, now or before, did very little) and we cannot expect them to give more and not compensate them for that.