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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School will be closed at lunchtime one day a week from Sept

708 replies

Ilovecranberries · 14/07/2020 09:25

The school (primary) had just informed the parents that they will be closing at lunchtime on one day a week from September to facilitate "planning".
I don't even know what to say. AIBU to think it is ridiculous? I am a single working parent, not sure how I am supposed to work around this. Extra childcare for these 3.5 hours at the local childminders rates will be £56 a week (two children here). Or two grand a year post tax. I probably will be told I am BU (I probably am), just very anxious right now.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 14/07/2020 09:27

Think this happens in Edinburgh on a Friday- closes at 1pm. Dont know what working parents do tbh

GreyishDays · 14/07/2020 09:28

We work around it, but it’s different when there’s been years to get used to it. The number of hours is the same anyway.

Realityofsen · 14/07/2020 09:29

A lot of schools are doing it currently as the bubbles means teachers need their PPA time

TeenPlusTwenties · 14/07/2020 09:29

demented In Edinburgh a lot of bigger businesses (at least used to) close at 1pm Friday too.

SandieCheeks · 14/07/2020 09:30

It is really difficult - schools are trying to follow guidelines and keep everyone safe. One of the issues it that they can't have other teachers coming in to classes to cover class teacher's planning time, so this is probably their way of tackling that.
My children's school has decided not to run wraparound.

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 14/07/2020 09:31

A number of schools were doing this pre-Covid due to staff shortages. I don’t know what the solution is though

Sharpandshineyteeth · 14/07/2020 09:31

It’s really shocking and going to disproportionately affect women.

Could you group together with 3 or 4 others mums and take it in turns to have to kids for that afternoon?

SandieCheeks · 14/07/2020 09:32

Will you qualify for uinversal credit to cover the childcare?

Or tax free childcare? That will save 20%

BuffaloCauliflower · 14/07/2020 09:32

It’s not “planning” as you put so incredulously, it’s PPA time that all teachers are legally required to have each week to prepare everything for the next week, which takes a lot of time believe it or not. The half day a week per teacher is usually covered by TAs and support staff but as these TAs aren’t allowed to cross bubbles they have no other way of doing this except to close for that time. They’re not doing it to piss you off and I think many schools will have to use this tactic.

Original poster
Ilovecranberries · 14/07/2020 09:33

SandieCheeks
No, I don't get benefits to help with childcare.

OP posts:
GreyishDays · 14/07/2020 09:34

@TeenPlusTwenties

demented In Edinburgh a lot of bigger businesses (at least used to) close at 1pm Friday too.
Don’t see that among our friends so it’s not widespread.
SandieCheeks · 14/07/2020 09:34

@Ilovecranberries

SandieCheeks No, I don't get benefits to help with childcare.
If you don't qualify for UC then you should get tax free childcare unless you have a very high income.
BuffaloCauliflower · 14/07/2020 09:35

@Ilovecranberries Tax Free Childcare isn’t benefits, it’s a scheme you can pay into and the government tops up what you put in

Original poster
Ilovecranberries · 14/07/2020 09:36

BuffaloCauliflower
Planning is exactly what it says in the school newsletter. Well, hurray for it, what can I say. The whole class is happily mixing in the playground just outside the school gates every day for a couple of hours, but of course it must be completely different inside the school.

OP posts:
GinDrinker00 · 14/07/2020 09:38

My kids school are doing this but making the rest of the days longer. So they can deep clean the school.
Ask the school what you’re suppose to do, they might keep it open for working parents.

SandieCheeks · 14/07/2020 09:38

@Ilovecranberries

BuffaloCauliflower Planning is exactly what it says in the school newsletter. Well, hurray for it, what can I say. The whole class is happily mixing in the playground just outside the school gates every day for a couple of hours, but of course it must be completely different inside the school.
It's not really the school's fault if parents are choosing not to follow guidelines after school though, they can only do what the government is asking of them as best they can.
Original poster
Ilovecranberries · 14/07/2020 09:40

Tax Free Childcare isn’t benefits, it’s a scheme you can pay into and the government tops up what you put in
Well, that is 20% off. The remaining 80% is still the difference between us having a holiday next year and not. No, we won't starve, of course, and holidays are not essential. I am probably just pissed off with the lockdown and everything, and this was quite an unwelcome last drop.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 14/07/2020 09:42

PPA is a requirement OP whether you put it in inverted commas or not.

MalificentJones · 14/07/2020 09:42

It’s so they don’t have to cover every single teacher and TAs planning time. Everyone can have it at once.

It’s becoming more and more common.

A supply teacher costs the school about £200 a day and will usually cover one class in the morning and another in the afternoon so the teacher can have their PPA time. Some schools cover this with TAs but class TAs are becoming more and more rare. TAs who also teach will also need PPA time too. You can’t use a TA who is one-to-one with a child.

orangesandapplesandpearsohmy · 14/07/2020 09:43

I'd be happy with that for primary school, the hours are too long for those aged kids anyway. Would be better that it's a Friday I think as then you get a longer weekend.
School is for education, not childcare - lots of people seem to forget that.

dootball · 14/07/2020 09:43

but teachers are allowed to move across different bubbles in September - exactly like they will be doing in secondary schools.

Original poster
Ilovecranberries · 14/07/2020 09:44

Could you group together with 3 or 4 others mums and take it in turns to have to kids for that afternoon?
To be honest, I am not qualified to look after several 5-6 year old, and really would not like the responsibility. I am not acquainted with any parents in the school either - I used to be the first one to drop off children in the morning into the early start group.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovecranberries · 14/07/2020 09:46

I'd be happy with that for primary school, the hours are too long for those aged kids anyway. Would be better that it's a Friday I think as then you get a longer weekend.
I guess it is time for me to go and eat cake instead of bread, isn't it? Long weekend, how lovely.

OP posts:
Hercwasonaroll · 14/07/2020 09:47

Not sure why you couldn't look after 3-4 other kids once a month. It would be cheaper and is a good solution.

It's shit for everyone. Schools are forced into this by stupid policies.

Longdistance · 14/07/2020 09:48

My dds school will be closing at 1pm on a Fridays as of September. They asked the governors, they didn’t agree with it. They asked the parents, they were up in arms about, they will be going through with it anyway 😡 they’ve dressed it up as the school needing a deep clean on a Friday afternoon (convenient).
They will offer free care until 3.30 pm until Christmas, then we’d have to pay for it.
I’m privy to this info as my dh is a deputy chair of governors at the school. He’s really pissed off with them.