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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:
MarshaBradyo · 14/07/2020 14:39

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

What is the situation with this?

DuineArBith · 14/07/2020 14:39

I wonder how all of the people going on about the vital necessity of this for PPA reconcile it with the fact that the vast majority of schools have no intention of going down this path?

SleepingStandingUp · 14/07/2020 14:48

Kids can do plenty of other stuff without screens. And How many of these other things cana 5yo do for a few hours whilst mommy has a very important meeting?

Whatelsecanipossiblydo · 14/07/2020 14:49

I get that it’s shit OP. I get your frustrated but seriously, perspective would be helpful.

Obviously everyone wants to live comfortably and afford holidays and not have extra childcare.... it would be great if everyone could... but at this time, the fact you’re able to survive is actually a huge blessing! So many (including my husbands) have lost their jobs and face losing everything. I’d kill for a bit of extra childcare that I could afford to be my only problem right now.

And I know its not a competition....just perspective has helped me and trying to hold onto positives.

Moaning about stuff isn’t going to make you feel better or make a difference to the situation...the only thing you CAN do is accept it and move forward...

KangarooIsland · 14/07/2020 14:50

The school I used to work at started closing at 1pm on a Friday about 2 years ago. They did it because they had to cut costs, they literally didn’t have enough money to run at full capacity. Looks like it’s becoming more common, sadly.

DomDoesWotHeWants · 14/07/2020 14:50

@MarshaBradyo

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

What is the situation with this?

A set number of hours of education per week.It's up to schools to decide when they take place.

Back in the dark ages my grammar school had Saturday morning lessons to make up for an afternoon off for a big staff meeting once a term.

As long as the school is open for the required number of hours it counts as full time.

C33P0 · 14/07/2020 14:51

I'm waiting for our school to let us know about this too. So far school have said "things won't be back to normal by September", but haven't committed to when they will let us know their plans. In fact, they said that additional guidance is being released mid-August, so it's possible they might wait until then! DS is in Y1 and currently back 4.5 days per week, with Wednesdays being the half day. It will be a right pain if that continues, as one of DD's nursery days is a Wednesday.

JaniceWebster · 14/07/2020 14:52

schools have never been great at accommodating working parents
but that's not what they are for! That's the point.

Regardless of the small fact that most of the "schools" staff are working parents themselves...

A school is not a childcare facility. Obviously we use the schools hours, no one has even claimed you shouldn't, but education and childcare are not the same. It's a disaster when the 2 are confused. We can see how well it's working out right now.

The confusion over what "full time education" actually means is a good example.

Parker231 · 14/07/2020 14:54

Working parents can’t work if schools don’t operate fully. Should every family have one SAHP?

MarshaBradyo · 14/07/2020 14:56

Thanks Dom

I take it this school is not making up the lost hours. Is it under full time? Or is every school over the required number of hours to comply as ft.

SorrelBlackbeak · 14/07/2020 14:59

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

Tell that to all the people who've been complaining about how they haven't been able to see grandparents during lockdown.

The op has said her holidays are to visit her parents but that's fine, she can put that off for another few years.

JaniceWebster · 14/07/2020 15:02

Working parents can’t work if schools don’t operate fully.
why not? Of course you CAN. When you don't have the choice you make it work. It does have a cost and/or a lot of juggling and planning.

No one has ever decided to have children believing that they'll be at school full time from age 4 to 18 so you won't have to bother or worry about them Hmm

School hours are a bonus, not the basics of your schedule.

AnnaNimmity · 14/07/2020 15:02

the lack of empathy on here towards the OP is incredible.

Yes OP, I think you are not unreasonable to think this is putting you in a difficult position and to feel anxious about it.

AnnaNimmity · 14/07/2020 15:04

and that's rubbish "school hours are a bonus..." No, many parents NEED their children to be at school in order to work. It's incredible that you would even write that.

JaniceWebster · 14/07/2020 15:05

No, many parents NEED their children to be at school in order to work. It's incredible that you would even write that.

as a working parent, I didn't plan my career relying on free "school childcare", it's ludicrous to pretend anyone would!

ARoseInHarlem · 14/07/2020 15:05

It’s an undeniably stressful time, especially for those who were already only just getting by, or for whom any change in circumstances would be catastrophic.

What I don’t get is the general attitude that someone (the government? Teachers? Teachers’ unions? Others?) is doing this TO us. Covid-19 is a thing that has happened to everyone on the planet. Almost everyone is worse off in some way. It’s like an earthquake, or a hurricane. What legitimate expectation do any of us have to not have it happen? No single government has had a response that hasn’t disrupted normal life negatively. It’s not possible.

There’s no denying the government’s response has been shambolic - that’s a whole different question. But what do posters like the OP and others in her situation want anyone to do about something like the specific problem of school closing for half a day per week?

I’m all for venting and complaining. But I don’t see the point in blaming, it a blame culture.

LaurieMarlow · 14/07/2020 15:06

Are you going to answer the question about what you do for childcare while working full time Janice?

Normally?

Original poster
Ilovecranberries · 14/07/2020 15:07

I am sorry if me mentioning holidays had upset someone. It is just the fact that it was the holiday fund that got raided in favour of this extra expense. It could have been the "roof repair" fund - the roof leaks badly since storm dennis - the only difference is that this one is empty. Grin The holiday is to see my parents, I haven't seen them since last summer, there has been a death in the family during the pandemic and there soon will be another one, one of my grandparents is terminal. Not a luxury cruise on a yacht.

OP posts:
DomDoesWotHeWants · 14/07/2020 15:07

@MarshaBradyo

Thanks Dom

I take it this school is not making up the lost hours. Is it under full time? Or is every school over the required number of hours to comply as ft.

It's quite likely they are complying.

When I started teaching in the early 70s we started at 9am; 15 minute break at 10.45; lunch 12 - 1.30 then afternoon break 2.30 - 2.45. School closed at 3.30.

After a couple of years they got rid of afternoon break and finished at 3.15.As time went on they cut the lunch hour by 15 minutes and school began at 8.55 and finished at 3pm.

Some schools have cut the lunch time to just 30 minutes.

I know it isn't helpful to working parents but this is how it's developed.

Some secondary schools have serious behaviour problems at lunchtime and have cut it to the minimum to reduce the opportunity. Which means they finish a lot earlier than I did back in the day.

AnnaNimmity · 14/07/2020 15:09

I'm not pretending. I know it to be the case. Like it or not, in the real world, school is essential to allow most people to work. Most people do not have a SAHP at home, grandparents on tap or endless income to pay for ad hoc childcare.

As a working parent, I am reliant on school being open to allow me to work.

Original poster
Ilovecranberries · 14/07/2020 15:10

as a working parent, I didn't plan my career relying on free "school childcare", it's ludicrous to pretend anyone would!
Well, I did. I expected that my children will attend school full time between the ages of 4 and 18. It was kind of an unwritten social contract between me and the society.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 14/07/2020 15:10

Tbh they probably are complying. State schools are usually good at compliance with rules.

MarshaBradyo · 14/07/2020 15:11

Well, I did. I expected that my children will attend school full time between the ages of 4 and 18. It was kind of an unwritten social contract between me and the society.

Exactly. Maybe this full time school contract is written somewhere too.

LaurieMarlow · 14/07/2020 15:12

I expected that my children will attend school full time between the ages of 4 and 18.

Why would anyone not plan for this? It’s been a legal requirement for children to do this (unless homeschooling) until this crisis.

Davincitoad · 14/07/2020 15:13

It’s too allow teachers to have ppa!