Return to school date

[BringBiscuits]

My dd school has just confirmed the return to school date. As previous years y8 go back last. Monday 7 September is training day, tues 8 is for new starters, Wednesday 9 for everyone but y8. She will finally return on Thursday 10 September after 25weeks out of school. She will have been out of school longer than she was in it!
AIBU that they could have brought this forward this year after all the missed weeks? She isn’t settled in and dreads going back. I think it would be better to treat y8 with similar treatment to y7 so bring them back as soon as possible not at the end of the week when everyone is in.
Would you mention it to the school given that it won’t change anything? Or AIBU?

Would you mention it to the school given that it won’t change anything?

No, I wouldn’t.

Well no, because teachers are contracted for a set number of days so you can't just add on a week. Teachers and other parents may have holidays, weddings etc booked. Bus companies would have to shift things around. Plus y7 are in alone so that they can have the run of the place while they get used to it.

AIBU that they could have brought this forward this year after all the missed weeks?

Who will pay the additional wages for all of the staff to be in work for an extra week?

I don’t know what you mean an extra week?

My dd not bk till 14th September year 8! She has been of school so long it will be a nightmare getting her bk.

I didn’t suggest they open school earlier. Just that y8 should go on the Tuesday or Wednesday or postpone the training day on the Monday to later on in the year.

I think schools should be all back first week in September at this rate might as well stay of till next year when you include holidays like October half term etc.

The teachers are going to need that training day to get up to speed with all the new covid regulations.
And as the parent of a new Y7, I'm very pleased he will get a day at the start of the year with just the Y12s on site. He has spent approximately 1 hr in the place so far!
The Y8s going back later than the rest of the school seems a bit off tho, but I dont think school are going to change it now.

You don’t think a training day just before schools adapt to an entirely new way of working would be useful?

I don’t think 1 more week on top of all the time they’ve already been out of school will make any difference.

Don’t mention it to the school! They have no perfect solution, they’re trying to do the best they can for as many children as possible.

If they start mid Aug where is the money going to come from to pay the staff? Or are you saying they should finish at the end of June 2021.

I personally want my children to be taught by teachers who have had up to date training.

I didn’t suggest they should start in August

But she’s only going back 2 days later than the Y7’s?

I’m not really seeing how it’s a major problem for her to go back on the Thursday rather than the Tuesday or Wednesday?

I realise there is no point mentioning to school really but I don’t think they’ve realised how y8 pupils still feel new! If it was a normal year they’d have been there a year to get used to the place but they won’t have been there for 6months.

postpone the training day on the Monday to later on in the year.

That would be a ridiculous idea. There is so much that has changed and staff need to be fully aware of what the new plans will be. The final guidance is due to be released mid August and SLT will spend the last few weeks if the holidays making plans before they can tell the staff.

It isn’t a major problem but I just thought given the terrible first year they’ve had everyone would be keen to get the new year started as soon as possible. My ds school have already written to parents to say they acknowledge that after everything that has happened it is vital to get back to business as usual as soon as possible. After all doesn’t every school day count?

postpone the training day is exactly what my sons school is doing fedup

She is only going back a couple of days later. Schools are being sensible stagger year groups going back, every year will need an induction day due to all the changes I spoke to one of the teaches from my child's school and it's been a mammoth job reorganising forms into ability bubbles that's before you get to all the other precautions they have to put in place. I think it's rather petty to complain about a start date which is only 2 days later considering how much extra work is going into settling the pupils back into a new school routine.

One of mine is also going into year 8. It makes no difference which day they back in tne first group. Year groups won't be mixing. Year 8 will get as much support as every other year group regardless of which day they go back.

It is what it is, it won't change. Accept it and move on. The kids will be fine in the end, too many people are getting too worked up about this.

Did the global pandemic pass you by?

OK....never seen a 100% uabu before!

The first training day in September is needed to update staff of changes for the year, safeguarding updates etc With Covid there are likely to be even more updates. Also for new staff it gives them a day to find the loos, work out how to use the photocopier, find out where staff keep the hidden supplies of glue sticks etc.... Having been out for 25 weeks 2 more days really doesn't make a massive difference.

Your daughter isn't new to the school. She had nearly 2 terms there before lock down. She will get back to the swing of it quickly.

Pandemic? Sorry mabel must have missed that. 🙄

I’m clearly in the minority here. That’s the point of this thread right to see if you are being unreasonable? One day someone will say yes I see your point of view, appreciate it’s frustrating, what a shame etc. but sorry you are being unreasonable. Instead it’s snarky comments.

Completely agree with mum diva. Your child is not new to the school, not by a long shot. My upcoming year 8 has missed as much school as yours and I'm just thsnk full he's not a year 7 this year, they are the ones who need extra time and input. Every year will get an induction due to the changes, but to make our year year 8 is disadvantaged is ridiculous, they had almost 2 full terms already in the school.

My year 9 and 11 dd's go back in December...

Sunnyday that's terrible.

YABU; they have to stagger the return dates and the school timetable to ensure social distancing and help the new starters get accustomed to the layout. Some of the new starters will have had minimal or zero transition time at the school and will be milling around totally lost.