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.

[LatteLover12]

If you're in England then the school can't just announce this, there has to be consultation.

I'd also be concerned that children weren't getting their minimum legal entitlement of hours per week.

Worth checking!

[SandieCheeks]

@dootball

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

Guidelines are a little different in primary and secondary though - young children can’t distance and teachers can’t realistically stay away from them in primary, so there is more of a focus on keeping classes separate and not mixing groups & staff.

[Ilovecranberries]

Not sure why you couldn't look after 3-4 other kids once a month. It would be cheaper and is a good solution.
Because I am not a childminder and have no intention of becoming one, or have any responsibility for someone else's child?

[SandieCheeks]

@Ilovecranberries

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.

You don’t need to be qualified to look after some of your kid’s friends for 3 hours, it’s essentially just a play date. Put the tv on and some pizza in the oven, job done.

[TheCanyon]

Our schools done this for the last 6 or 7 years. It's been so long but I think the school day was extended by 30 mins mon-thurs. There were no wraparound school clubs at all before this so it was only a limited amount of childminders only, this forced the set up of a town afterschool club, which is £15 per child from 12.50-6.

[Jellycatspyjamas]

I guess it is time for me to go and eat cake instead of bread, isn't it? Long weekend, how lovely.

You’ve said you won’t starve, you know how much additional childcare will cost so I assume you’ve got somewhere that will provide childcare, yes it’s unpleasant to have to tighten our belts but not having a holiday is a relatively small price to pay.

You’re not starving, or unable to keep a roof over your head - while it’s rubbish to have to tighten your bent, I’m not getting the angst here.

[Rinoachicken]

I am not qualified to look after several 5-6 year old, and really would not like the responsibility.

Have you kids never had a birthday party? Never had a kids over to play? It’s a couple of hours, not all day, and you would be responsible for nothing more than providing a snack, drinks and listening out! No one would be expecting you to homeschool them or anything more complicated than putting on a movie or shucking them out in the garden! It’s not rocket science!

[Ilovecranberries]

Jellycatspyjamas
I am happy to "pay the price". What I am paying this price for again? Apologies for being thick.
Of course, as long as I am not starving or homeless it is OK.

[MarshaBradyo]

What a pain. Finding childcare for such a short amount isn’t that easy either.

[rc22]

Shocking fact but....schools have never been under any legal obligation to keep children at school over lunchtime. Head teachers can insist at any time that children are taken away from the site by parents for lunch.

[Ilovecranberries]

Have you kids never had a birthday party? Never had a kids over to play?
Haven't been invited to a single birthday party, if I am honest. We have friends outside of school, but they obviously are out of sync with our problem. I am not even sure that there ARE three working mothers in my children's class who might be interested.
And my annual leave calendar has to be approved 6 months in advance. I cannot just take time off here and there on a whim to babysit strangers' children.

[canyoucallbacklater]

Infuriating, yet hopefully not forever.

Is there a chance you can work from home, that afternoon, OP?

Unfortunately, if you can't I think you're either going to have to beg, borrow or steal childcare from family/friends, take annual leave or hope your boss lets you take the time unpaid.

[ifonly4]

The problem is many teachers haven't had a break since February. They've been working longer hours in class, as well as supporting those remote learning, ours are even doing a bedtime story at 7pm. Other than zoom and staff forum, they've had hardly any direct contact with eachother to discuss things. Also, they've have missed out on inset days which are vital for keeping training up to date. They've got teaching to catch up on (it's been childcare not teaching for keyworker children, therefore, they have been able to teach either keyworker or remote learning to the full extent). They're going to need time to review and plan each step of the way. Class layouts, hygiene, contact in high volume areas might need reviewing as well.

[Hercwasonaroll]

It's not on a whim. Make a plan now with other parents. It's not exactly a hardship. Like a PP says, pizza, film, job done.

[Jellycatspyjamas]

I am happy to "pay the price". What I am paying this price for again? Apologies for being thick.
Of course, as long as I am not starving or homeless it is OK.

You’re paying the price for safe education of your children, to enable teachers to plan classes and provide a good standard of education for your children, to support appropriate social distancing in schools by not swapping cover staff between classes.

I get it, I’ve had my kids home for 4 months now and was facing 2 days a week in school come August - without any additional childcare provision, I’ve been teetering on the edge of losing my job. So no, I don’t get the angst about half a day when you have and can afford childcare. You said it would be the difference between going on holiday or not - going on holiday is a “nice to have”, however hard and stressful you let job might be and many families don’t have regular holidays.

It’s annoying, but you’ll be ok.

[TokyoSushi]

Our school is being very cagey indeed about 'arrangements for September.' A bit like the government, they keep being billed as going to be announced 'in the coming days.' I suspect it's because we're not going to like them.

[mondaywine]

Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian have had half day Fridays (some schools in Edinburgh had a Wednesday half day) for at least 20 years. Businesses didn’t close to accommodate it. It is just how it is. The school days is longer and there is no afternoon break time. What did you do normally after school on a Friday? I’m presuming your school closed at 3pm ish so this is just a few more hours. Did you use a childminder you could extend?

[emmathedilemma]

A lot of people don't work Fridays @dementedpixie for that reason, or those that do might only work a half day or work from home in the morning so they can pick the kids up or be in for them coming home.

[MadeForThis]

You won't be the only one in this situation and you won't be the only one angry about it.
Does your dc have many friends in their classes? Those parents might be happy to come to an arrangement with you.

If the school won't change then you will either have to pay for childcare or get creative. If you have 2 dc the childcare swap won't work as no one will take all siblings.

[Ilovecranberries]

Like a PP says, pizza, film, job done.
I am amazed that some people have 5 year olds who can sit for 6+ hours in front of the TV with a pizza and a few friends. Maybe that's where I am failing in parenting.

[Orangeblossom78]

Our English primary has PPA days every Wed, one week KS1 and next KS2, they have play scheme staff in to run PE and games activities for the children on those days though

I think this was due to pre covid requirements for teachers to have a half day planning time? Not sure- but it works / worked well...

Same people run the holiday play scheme

[Hercwasonaroll]

The after lunch school session isn't 6 hours.....

[Ilovecranberries]

What did you do normally after school on a Friday?
It is not a Friday, it is actually a mid week day. I am usually using a childminder for 2 hours after school, every day.

[Orangeblossom78]

There is no extra charge for this

[SeasonFinale]

It would OP is here just to sound off and not to seek viable solutions.