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

[Ilovecranberries]

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.

I am not on relying on benefit but on my full-time salary if that was your question, so yes, I do provide for my kids myself

And what childcare do you use when earning your full time salary may I ask?

People manage. It's only a shock and horror if your school/region has never done this, but once you're used to it, everyone just gets on with it.

exactly.

It was going to happen anyway, and I didn't read many complaints about it before the pandemic because people didn't think it would affect them.

So many threads on this forum laughing at the pathetic parents on school run, at the pathetic PTA trying desperately to raise money and pathetic parents trying to raise the funding issue....not many threads about the lack of funding and overcrowding of school classes!

LaurieMarlow
what do you think? How did people manage to work full time during the lockdown? Not all of us have been on furlough you know.

@ilovecranberries
That makes sense why this is additionally stressful for you. At first it sounded like it was just the additional childcare and missing a holiday but if you are already on a performance review for missing work for childcare I can see how it would tip you over the edge.

At first it sounded like it was just the additional childcare and missing a holiday but if you are already on a performance review for missing work for childcare I can see how it would tip you over the edge.
To be honest, it would tip me over the edge even without work related issues.

How did people manage to work full time during the lockdown? Not all of us have been on furlough you know

I worked all through the lockdown.

My productivity was down. My mental health and family time went down the toilet. My children spent an unacceptable amount of time on screens.

Not sustainable in any way.

In any event, my boss wants me back in the office. At least two days a week now. September it will be full time.

Can you answer the question anyway. What childcare do you normally use while earning your full time salary?

Or are you saying you don’t use any, in regular times?

OP you have had a bashing on here that makes me rage. You are a great role model. Providing for your children. Doing your best. The mantra “school is not childcare” is only uttered by the privileged or the intellectually challenged. It is really difficult for you. An unexpected change on top of everything wise. The lack of insight and empathy displayed here for you astonishes me.

Welcome to the real world of parenting.

Again. Ridiculous. Of course I know what it’s like to have to find ad hoc cc. It’s why I have every sympathy for op. And yes it does usually fall to women to pick up the pieces.

Yep, YABVU, and really dismissive of the time teachers need to actually effectively teach your children. PPA is very important.

You are also very rude to most of the posters on this thread, many of whom have offered great solutions.

You can’t have your cake and eat it too, and missing out on a holiday next year isn’t a hardship.

From July 2019

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-48886116
Hundreds march over schools closing early on Fridays

Kate Taylor, from (SOS), said across the country there were about 250 schools closing early on Fridays, with 27 in Birmingham.

and

"The schools haven't got enough money, for teaching assistants, support for vulnerable children - they haven't got enough money for pencils - and now they're having to close early on Friday afternoons...," Ms Taylor said.

When you start to look at individual schools and why they did it or were considering it, its crazy.

www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/headteacher-close-school-friday-afternoon-15978130
Headteacher may close school on Friday afternoons due to funding cuts
He already teaches 120 children at the same time to save money

www.theguardian.com/education/2018/apr/27/school-may-cut-hours-to-stop-teacher-burnout
School considers Friday afternoon closures to stop teacher 'burnout'
Daventry primary school proposes move to four-and-a-half day week to address workload

And that was BEFORE covid.

I suspect within a couple of years, early closing on a Friday will be the norm rather than the exception.

Is your kids father around to help?

Why does some idiot always ask this? Does it make you feel superior?

One of the very obvious solution suggested to the OP was to alternate with other parents. Not ideal, but it helps.

The very dismissive attitude of the OP towards other people doesn't help her posts. Might explain the lack of empathy a bit...

You can’t have your cake and eat it too

Anyone else flabbergasted that wanting to work to support your child has become ‘having your cake and eating it?’

Some of us don't want to work, but have to, and instead of moaning and refusing all solutions, have to make it work one way or another.

There's still a very entitled and smug state of mind from some people who refuse to be inconvenienced in any way.

My productivity was down. My mental health and family time went down the toilet. My children spent an unacceptable amount of time on screens.

I've worked from home on and off for years. My productivity is way higher than working in an office and family time is much better because I'm not spending three hours a day commuting, getting home only an hour before DD's bedtime. I intend to continue WFH after this all settles down.

Screen time doesn't have to be the default. It has been an issue for us even without Covid but we got it under control by simply turning them off. Kids can do plenty of other stuff without screens.

And that was BEFORE covid.

I suspect within a couple of years, early closing on a Friday will be the norm rather than the exception.

Indeed. What I find astonishing is that no one was really bothered about it pre-covid!

They’ve done both things.

To be fair, schools have never been great at accommodating working parents.

Screen time doesn't have to be the default. It has been an issue for us even without Covid but we got it under control by simply turning them off.

Well I’d love to hear your tips for managing a 5 year old and a 2 year old through Zoom meetings that I was hosting and presenting through.

@MintyMabel rather than being superior it recognises that in normal circumstances children have two parents, so it’s not unreasonable to explore what the father might be doing to fulfil the need for flexible childcare.

Some of you are such arseholes.

The day the DWP agree that school is not childcare and that parents of school age children should not have to seek full time work is the day you can smugly trot out your pithy little phrases without those of us who have to negotiate the real world regarding you with utter contempt.

There's still a very entitled and smug state of mind from some people who refuse to be inconvenienced in any way.

Utter bollocks. Empathy rather.

To be fair, schools have never been great at accommodating working parents.

True.

Point out that by law children have to be in full time education.

They would be quick enough to report parents who arbitrarily decide to take their children out of school for half a day a week.

This has been happening in Birmingham for quite a while now, nothing to do with Covid just underfunding of schools. The MP Jess Phillips is quite vocal about it. I'd suggest writing to the school governors, local council, local MP, organise a petition at the school etc etc. I don't think much will change but at least you should have your concerns heard.