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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this last minute inset day is a terrible idea!

279 replies

Gotajobthrunepotism · 09/12/2020 22:11

Please don’t think I’m teacher bashing. Because I’m really not: I think teaching must be a stressful job, and not one I would choose.

But, this last minute inset day is an awful idea:
This year has been dreadful, and stressful for most people. We home schooled during lockdown while both working full time in hectic jobs. And it was very trying.

To schedule a last minute inset day makes it so difficult for people to get childcare: not everyone has someone to look after their child (particularly if your family are shielding)

Surely this should have been announced at the start of term so parents could plan in advance ?

OP posts:
Welcometonowhere · 10/12/2020 17:42

I don’t even know why we are arguing about this. It isn’t protection at all.

Schools closing is not good, for all sorts of reasons.

However, planned closures, with plenty of notice (e.g. holidays) are fine. People can plan in advance. No issues there.

Therefore the fact private schools have longer holidays is neither here nor there. The point is that parents know about those holidays in advance, and make plans for their child accordingly.

In more general terms I stand by the view that last minute closures impact on everybody but mostly on parents in an already precarious position, who don’t tend to be numerous in private schools.

ChloeDecker · 10/12/2020 17:42

as well as having other unconnected involvement in secondary education.

As are, conveniently, so many other posters like you on MN at the minute. Am not totally sure you are a chair of governors anyway because none of what you allegedly asked for, comes under the remit of school governors and especially Chairs. It just didn’t happen.

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 10/12/2020 17:44

We are not doing it. We can't change things this late and we have training booked for our other days that we don't want to change. Just waiting for the Dfe to say they 'offered' the option and it's school's fault for not taking it. The Head of my school will be doing track and trace up to Christmas Eve. It is a crazy situation. Personally I am just hoping we have no positive cases next week so none of my colleagues have to isolate over Christmas.

ChloeDecker · 10/12/2020 17:44

Therefore the fact private schools have longer holidays is neither here nor there. The point is that parents know about those holidays in advance, and make plans for their child accordingly.

It was in response to Xenia saying that people currently having trouble with the 18th December should have used private schools. My point in direct response to that was that wouldn’t help them as that would be more days off and is therefore, a valid point, even if you don’t agree with it.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 10/12/2020 17:45

Oh well presumably just one day - just heard on the news that Welsh schools a closing a full week early, from Friday

BertNErnie · 10/12/2020 17:50

My children's school has announced they are closing on Thursday - this is 3 days earlier than planned.

I'm not sure where they are moving the INSET days to but I'm pleased.

Welcometonowhere · 10/12/2020 17:50

Nightmare every

chloe I think it’s the last minute nature of this closure not the closure itself that is the issue.

Smellbellina · 10/12/2020 18:22

Suprised that someone with all of @MarieG10 supposed ‘experience’ hasn’t come across many/any?? teachers for whom it is a second career Hmm

ChloeDecker · 10/12/2020 18:27

@Welcometonowhere

Nightmare every

chloe I think it’s the last minute nature of this closure not the closure itself that is the issue.

Oh we definitely agree there! 100% with you on that.
Mammyloveswine · 10/12/2020 19:29

I'm a teacher.., my school are not doing this... both my children's school and nursery have announced today they are... absolute childcare nightmare!

LolaSmiles · 10/12/2020 19:52

Flipflops85
It is inflammatory and really quite hostile which suggests that either they are the governor at the sort of school that is an unpleasant place to work (after all why on earth would a governor want to, or need to, ask for excessive information about what work staff do in their holidays), or it's an embellished version of the truth, or it's made up.

Suprised that someone with all of @MarieG10 supposed ‘experience’ hasn’t come across many/any?? teachers for whom it is a second career hmm
It's funny how lots of posters who go on silly, inflammatory rants about how teachers have life easy and don't know the real world seem to forget there's lots of us doing it as a second career.
The rants usually show a limited understanding of the sector too most of the time.
Hmm

FrippEnos · 10/12/2020 20:18

MarieG10

Could you whine anymore.

Was a teacher nasty to you at school?

Big hugs from everyone.

SaltyAF · 10/12/2020 22:07

Gosh @MarieG10, I'd hazard a guess that the school you govern has a retention problem. You know staff are not paid to work over the summer and you have zero right to ask what they're working on in their unpaid time, I assume? You should like an absolutely foul individual.

SaltyAF · 10/12/2020 22:07

Sound like

OwlinaTree · 10/12/2020 22:23

Not really buying the 'parents from all walks of life' at the private school tbh. Are you in the UK?

chuffedasbuttons · 10/12/2020 23:07

I work school admin.

Some teachers may not even be aware of some of my points because it falls under school MANAGEMENT and not all teachers are managers.

Schools legally must:
Have a pro-rata number of first aiders to student and staff numbers. = 1 day PAID for first aid course. These are expensive and booked a year in advance

Additionally, schools legally must have a paediatric first aider (quotas again on student numbers so more than 1) = 2 day course and booked well in advance. Twice the price of the above.

Schools legally must all have a qualified SEN lead. Even the half form entry primary schools. This is a recognised qualification which schools pay for to have a staff member qualified in. Guess what. You book it in advance

SATS.
All yr 2 teachers must undertake a course in how to be qualified to assess students. EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
Ditto Yr R.
Ditto Y6

Secondary schools must undertake annual training to be able to make assessments, be regulated for exam entry and these are just the few I know about. There are so many regulation courses that HAVE to be done.

They are booked in advance.
You're not compliant if you miss them.

So this day on 18th you all think is a day off for teachers to get Xmas, is not at all. It means their schools won't be compliant. Ofsted will knock and fail them. (Extreme explanation but no different to any other professional body failing).

And I make the phone calls. Sorrry, you need to isolate for 10 days.

I'll keep a tally just for you lot on Mumsnet for how many
"FUCK OFF" replies I get from the parents who don't wear masks. Don't provide their children with masks and whom don't even have a job so this day doesn't impact them anyway.

I think many of you have a very warped view of reality. (Not my teaching colleagues who are so exhausted, they can't be bothered to explain it anymore)

Dobbyismyfavourite · 10/12/2020 23:12

My DD's school is breaking up for the Christmas holidays a day earlier on the 17th. I kind of understand why but for parents with under 11's the late notice must be a real pain trying to juggle work and childcare.

chuffedasbuttons · 10/12/2020 23:22

And I've seen the DfE letter.

At the end of 2020, of a year of immense strain and overtime on our headteachers and teaching staff, it takes a very strong and politically minded head to decide to ignore the Government letter which is very strongly worded that you should close on 17th.

Trust me, it's full of the usual waffle Boris shit you hear when the man talks.

Thereluctantstepmother · 10/12/2020 23:26

@chuffedasbuttons I wish you worked at my school. You’re spot on!

ChloeDecker · 10/12/2020 23:37

That was a very valuable post chuffedasbuttons thank you.

AIMD · 10/12/2020 23:39

Yes it was a terrible idea.
I could understand if Christmas was on a Monday but most schools are breaking up a whole week before Xmas anyway?!

babyinthacorner · 10/12/2020 23:41

@chuffedasbuttons
Brilliantly put! Thank you.

Smellbellina · 10/12/2020 23:41

Can you imagine in any other profession having some one wanting you to account for how much work you have done during your paid/unpaid leave?

Yubaba · 11/12/2020 00:04

My ds2 primary school had their 5 inset days in October and had a 2 week half term, we haven’t been told otherwise so they are closing on Friday next week.
My other 2 at high school are finishing on Thursday lunch time, which is a total pain as I’ve booked the day off to finish my Christmas shopping Angry

MarieG10 · 11/12/2020 05:46

@Flipflops85

Why would I need to gain remote access to my school system to do planning and displays in the holidays? I don’t need access to the school system - I have everything I need on my memory stick.

A memory stick? What public sector allows memory sticks. Basic (and I mean basic) network security will not allow the transfer of data to memory sticks or other removable media due to the risk of network compromise and virus transmission..and I do t mean Covid. The only time a memory stick should be able to be used on a system is when highly encrypted and heavily controlled...usually a network administrator.

It must be 10 years since I have ever seen USB media access to a system. The only exception at times more recent was the NHS due to their appallingly outdated setups which have been resolved.

If your school or council provider allows that unfettered then they are in breach of decent security protocols.