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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why is the start of term always so complicated?

62 replies

Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:24

Pandemic aside, really it's always like this. I hate it.
Why, after weeks off school, can the kids not just go back normally?
But they never can. It's half days and staggered start times for weeks, then a day off after a couple of weeks. Mornings-to get used to them. Then afternoons-to get used to them.
Its a nightmare. Literally a few weeks of complicated messing around here there and everywhere until after October half term when it starts properly.
Also, no need for teacher training days the first week of term surely? Just have a date they can go, properly all day, and stick to it.
Sat here waiting to do a second school run today for the sake of 2 hours at school before getting the other one. The others not back till next week.

AIBU?

OP posts:
OrangeGinLemonFanta · 03/09/2020 11:28

Is your child a new starter in Reception? My Yr1 child has just gone in normal hours starting from today. Even last year she only had 4 shorter, settling in days and was full time after the first week.

W00t · 03/09/2020 11:28

no need for teacher training days the first week of term surely?
Teacher training days don't form part of term time- they're taken out of non-contact time not school time! And there are so many rules and changes this term- when do you think the staff would be brought up to speed on those? (One-way systems round schools, new classroom bases, different breaks and lunches, new routines for hygiene, new procedures for almost everything etc)

Also safeguarding training/updates- pretty sure that needs doing before children turn up.

OverTheRainbow88 · 03/09/2020 11:29

no need for teacher training days the first week of term surely?

We spend a whole day analysing the GCSE and A’Level results that were realised during the holidays.

We have staggered starts so the year 7s get to spend a couple of hours in a huge new school exploring, without the older kids being there.

The same for year 12s.

Year 8s move from year 7 tutor groups to vertical ones so they get to spend an hour with their new tutor before all the older ones come in

Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:30

@W00t

no need for teacher training days the first week of term surely? Teacher training days don't form part of term time- they're taken out of non-contact time not school time! And there are so many rules and changes this term- when do you think the staff would be brought up to speed on those? (One-way systems round schools, new classroom bases, different breaks and lunches, new routines for hygiene, new procedures for almost everything etc)

Also safeguarding training/updates- pretty sure that needs doing before children turn up.

At my kids school they are included within term dates Why not write them separately and have term start on the first day of term
OP posts:
Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:30

@W00t

no need for teacher training days the first week of term surely? Teacher training days don't form part of term time- they're taken out of non-contact time not school time! And there are so many rules and changes this term- when do you think the staff would be brought up to speed on those? (One-way systems round schools, new classroom bases, different breaks and lunches, new routines for hygiene, new procedures for almost everything etc)

Also safeguarding training/updates- pretty sure that needs doing before children turn up.

One day during the six weeks off surely?
OP posts:
RedskyAtnight · 03/09/2020 11:31

I've literally never experienced this except in Reception. And Year 7 went back at day early for an "induction". Do you have lots of children that it seems like every year?

Magicbabywaves · 03/09/2020 11:31

I agree with you about the staggered days, I used to think just start with everyone there, much easier. (teacher here), but not the INSET.

W00t · 03/09/2020 11:32

And sorry, but my DC went back at normal start time, though DS went a day before DD because he's a new starter.

We actually turned down a reception place at an outstanding primary because I couldn't manage the part time the whole of September nonsense. DD had been in nursery since 12mo, she was more than ready for 9-3 each day.

Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:32

@OrangeGinLemonFanta

Is your child a new starter in Reception? My Yr1 child has just gone in normal hours starting from today. Even last year she only had 4 shorter, settling in days and was full time after the first week.
One of them is. Messing around for 2 weeks. She's spent 2 years at nursery we dont need 3 hour sessions for 2 weeks which is what they are doing I need her in full time How do they expect people to find childcare for that?
OP posts:
Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:33

@RedskyAtnight

I've literally never experienced this except in Reception. And Year 7 went back at day early for an "induction". Do you have lots of children that it seems like every year?
3 schools but all local and sister schools. It should be consistent across catchments i think
OP posts:
trilbydoll · 03/09/2020 11:33

My two have gone into Y1 and Y3, they've given the Y3 a slightly later start time of 9am this term but they've gone straight back to full days. Surely the staggered half days etc are just a Reception thing?

Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:35

@W00t

And sorry, but my DC went back at normal start time, though DS went a day before DD because he's a new starter.

We actually turned down a reception place at an outstanding primary because I couldn't manage the part time the whole of September nonsense. DD had been in nursery since 12mo, she was more than ready for 9-3 each day.

So did I. Had a place at a lovely church school who took ages to start reception 'because they get tired' at start of term. I also had to switch. I am aware my child is tired but so am I and it is one of those things they will get used to, special needs aside. There is the option to delay reception start if not suitable for the child. Most kids would cope fine going in full days immediately.
OP posts:
W00t · 03/09/2020 11:35

Technically those training days are still in the pupils' holidays- term time is 190 days per year. The English school year is statutory 195 days with 5 days training, 190 contact days.

Satiolivia22 · 03/09/2020 11:36

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Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:36

I am moaning as this year it is worse and its been 6 months of begging for keyworker sessions and rules.
But even id theyd just been off 6 weeks.
I feel desperate tbh. Single parent though no help throughout just really need a routine. This is more work than having them at home for another 2 weeks

OP posts:
BlusteryShowers · 03/09/2020 11:39

INSET days are fluid so that schools can organise them according to their individual needs. They might have external providers coming in for instance.

They have ones at the start of terms to discuss last year's results and agree on strategies for the coming year. For colleagues to meet on a more individual level about how they can implement these whole school initiatives on a department and class level. Teachers receive updates about safeguarding issues over the holidays and refresh statutory training. New members of staff are introduced and meet with colleagues. New software has often been installed over the summer to cause least disruption to teaching and needs to be introduced to staff. Deliveries of resources have been delivered and need to be made ready for students to use.

This year there will be more to cover than ever on inset days, so many schools are having more of them now.

Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:42

I get the need for INSET days but why do they need to be included in the calender-the dates should just be about when the kids go. Im not bothered about the rest.
Just tell me when to get them there, preferably normal time for all of the days-and I will get them there in full uniform etc.
I do think we are setting kids up to not cope when we are messing around like this.

OP posts:
W00t · 03/09/2020 11:43

You're allowed to moan, it's hard being a lone parent Thanks
There are some schools that don't seem to twig that most parents have to actually work in the day, whether there's one or two parents in a family.

Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:44

This isnt about teachers at all by the way. I know they need to prepare. It is just frustrating getting a long list which includes inset days.
For instance, third week in the secondary kids get a day off to rest
Why?

OP posts:
OverTheRainbow88 · 03/09/2020 11:45

For instance, third week in the secondary kids get a day off to rest

Our school does this for an open day for potential year 7s and 12s for the next academic year...

Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:45

@W00t

You're allowed to moan, it's hard being a lone parent Thanks There are some schools that don't seem to twig that most parents have to actually work in the day, whether there's one or two parents in a family.
Exactly this. My child's comfort and the school's ease of transition is to me, less to my need to work and sort the household.
OP posts:
Original poster
Advicewouldbeappreciated · 03/09/2020 11:46

@OverTheRainbow88

For instance, third week in the secondary kids get a day off to rest

Our school does this for an open day for potential year 7s and 12s for the next academic year...

But again, they could do this over the summer break. Term should be term. As in, in all day and learning.
OP posts:
thelittlestrhino · 03/09/2020 11:47

I don't know what the rules are in the rest of the UK, but here in Scotland the schools can offer phased starts for P1s, but all children have an entitlement to the full hours so if parents would rather send them in full time from day 1 they can.

I have no idea either how Covid will have changed this elsewhere. Our authority had ALL our children back full time on the 12th August.

Inset days are absolutely essential before term starts. Child protection, general 'housekeeping' and introducing new staff etc. We did 1/2 a day on a Teams meeting covering all the statuatory stuff and had 1/2 a day for organising resources (We hadn't been allowed in the school building since the end of June).

OverTheRainbow88 · 03/09/2020 11:49

But again, they could do this over the summer break. Term should be term. As in, in all day and learning

The parents/ carers would want to talk to and see the teachers- who aren’t paid for holidays so won’t be in.

looseddaughter · 03/09/2020 11:50

Kids don't get a day off to rest in secondary - it'll be an INSET day and probably for teachers to get their performance related pay appraisals done at that time of year. Not something anyone wants to do - a massive pita and I for one would rather be teaching.

I have never known schools that have such complicated starts as yours has, including when mine were in primary, but I think your problem is the lack of wrap around childcare, not schools as such. You do have my sympathy because it sounds like a tremendous faff.

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