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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

4 weeks of extra school in the summer

442 replies

noblegiraffe · 29/01/2021 10:17

Justine Greening (former Ed sec you’ve probably forgotten) has asked that every child get a guaranteed 4 extra weeks of schooling over the summer.

Practicalities of this aside (imagine it is a fully funded army of well-trained, eager and willing tutors, fresh and full of energy rocking up to your kids’ school), do you want this for your children? When you saw the thread title were you ‘yes!’ or ‘god no!’?

Personally I want my kids spending the summer taking advantage of lower restrictions to visit people they haven’t seen since last summer and doing outdoor, fun activities. Education isn’t the only thing they have been missing out on.

However, I know that others are very worried about the missing education and may consider the summer better spent catching up.

YABU: I want 4 weeks of extra school in the summer holidays

YANBU: I want my kids to have the summer off to do other things

OP posts:
MorganKitten · 29/01/2021 19:51

So teachers would get a break when?

Iggly · 29/01/2021 19:52

It doesn’t have to be full time school. Even once a week would be nice.

But yes teachers would need a break - they must be on their knees, like so so many of us who’ve had the extra toll due to the pandemic.

Seoirnbru · 29/01/2021 19:58

No way. My son needs a break and we as a family need a break. How would the 7 of my colleagues who need school holidays fit in to 2 weeks? It’s hard enough juggling it in 7. Not to mention the teachers who need a break too.
(Both NHS parents who haven’t had a completely uninterrupted break since July 2019 now....)

Sunsun21 · 29/01/2021 20:01

Children and teenagers from well
Off homes with family support will
Benefit far more from the experience of a more normal, fun and social summer with friends abs family returning to school with better mental health in September. Children who require school meals, who don’t have opportunities for days out and social connection should have the option of a return to school but with days out and swimming/sports mixed in with academics.yes I believe this is possible .

Flipflops85 · 29/01/2021 20:03

I can’t see the government wanting to pay teachers an additional 4 weeks wages - they’re not keen on funding the education system as it is.

Frozenintime · 29/01/2021 21:06

Let's just open the sport camp type activities. So those who can't afford to go on holiday can play and socialise with other children and be active

snailsraces · 29/01/2021 21:22

@JassyRadlett

I really can’t understand why we don’t at least consider moving 3-4 weeks of the summer holidays to February, Easter or May school breaks, and lengthening the summer term into August, to enable more time for all children to be in school when the vast majority of the population is vaccinated and before they have to move up a year.
That's going to mess up any tentative holiday plans people have. We have two weeks holiday booked for the summer which will go ahead (camping in a field at a friend's farm who is in our support bubble as they are single).

It's also not going to help the students going into 6th form or leaving for an apprenticeship or job.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 29/01/2021 21:54

This just a way of siphoning public money to profiteers in the private sector, whilst appearing to do "something about education" that sings to the Tory heartland vote and has bugger all to do with what children or parents need.

jambeforeclottedcream · 29/01/2021 21:59

Think of all the teachers who were due to get married last year swiftly followed out by a honeymoon going to do if they were rolled over to this year?

UndertheCedartree · 29/01/2021 22:17

@Snazzles2020 - I would happily pay for sessions like those, in fact I'd rather book and pay than go to a free drop-in as they are always rammed so I actively avoid.

formerbabe · 29/01/2021 22:23

@Frozenintime

Let's just open the sport camp type activities. So those who can't afford to go on holiday can play and socialise with other children and be active
Yes this would be great.

I'm a sahm but will be looking for holiday/sports camps this summer as I want my dd to spend some time with other kids and have fun after so many boring months stuck at home.

HarryBlackberry1 · 29/01/2021 22:27

I'm currently teaching face to face full time. As are most teachers I know. This will not work. Many of us are on our knees as we are teaching full time and also providing education for those children at home. Plus, it would be nice to spend the summer holidays with our own children. Also, we don't get paid for the Summer holidays.

Norwayreally · 29/01/2021 22:35

Teachers are currently working full time. It isn’t like the first lockdown where they worked on a rota basis to provide childcare for the minimal keyworker children and sent a loose timetable home once a week. This time some schools have half the children attending and the teachers still have to provide online work, zooms etc for the ones at home.

They deserve a break, as do the children tbf. Some parents might let their children slack off but I make mine do all of the work plus extra every day. They’re not missing out on their education whilst they’re at home at all. As a PP said, I’d rather things were open so we could spend the summer doing things other than walking around the same NT sites and nature reserves a million times.

TheSultanofPingu · 29/01/2021 22:49

For schools to open over the summer a whole range of support staff would be needed, not just teachers. Not going to happen.

Justthebeerlighttoguide · 29/01/2021 23:02

no thanks, I dont want this my dd works hard 6 days a week, and we want to have a break over the summer even if we cant go abroad.

Pipandmum · 29/01/2021 23:17

No, but my child has had fantastic online provision (still not as good as being in school).
Why not take a week off Easter and scrap June half term?
For exam year kids it's too late, though if they have gaps it may help to prepare them for A levels. But it that some schools have done better than other- i would have to be school by school, and as you say, I'm not sure teachers would agree!

freeandfierce · 29/01/2021 23:31

I for one won't be working any extra, I lost all my holiday last Summer to ensure students went through mitigation. I'm working 12 hr days and not had holiday apart from a few days at Christmas. I'm close to burn out, the thought of Summer is keeping me going. Today I was refused leave over Feb half term and may end of term. That leaves Summer where I might get a week or two.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 30/01/2021 00:07

I'm term time only. I get paid less as a result.

Who will be paying my extra salary? I'm certainly not doing it for free.

echt · 30/01/2021 05:22

I'm having bit of a larf about the teachers deserve a break comments.

Teachers don't have to anything before or after school, on the weekend, during holidays. Ever.

The country gets a sweet deal out of UK teachers. And treats them like serfs. Having said that I still think UK teachers shot themselves in the foot by the volunteering last year. You are valued at the price you assign to your services.

I teach, and go well over the odds as we most of us do, but if my school wants my actual ass on the premises to do work outside my contracted hours, they have to pay. And they do.

tttigress · 30/01/2021 05:40

British kids are going to be so far behind their peers in other countries.

I find it bizarre that parents seem to be keen to enable this outcome.

snailsraces · 30/01/2021 06:02

@echt

I'm having bit of a larf about the teachers deserve a break comments.

Teachers don't have to anything before or after school, on the weekend, during holidays. Ever.

The country gets a sweet deal out of UK teachers. And treats them like serfs. Having said that I still think UK teachers shot themselves in the foot by the volunteering last year. You are valued at the price you assign to your services.

I teach, and go well over the odds as we most of us do, but if my school wants my actual ass on the premises to do work outside my contracted hours, they have to pay. And they do.

Teachers were told to do it, as were support staff. What do you think their career future in their school would be if they had refused?
inquietant · 30/01/2021 06:09

An excellent idea if you want to make kids even more stressed and unhappy, well done Justine!

Sockwomble · 30/01/2021 06:11

I'd be happy to send ds to the right sort of specialist provision. He struggles in school holidays anyway. But on a practical level it can't be provided as there aren't enough specialist staff waiting in the wings to do this.

theviewfromhalfwaydown · 30/01/2021 06:32

No I want to spend some time with my children. They have been at home alone everyday as I can’t get a key worker place while I work with other people’s children.

Spikeyball · 30/01/2021 06:43

If something is going to be provided it should concentrate on outdoor activities, social skills and mental wellbeing. There could be use made of outdoor activity centres. I know though that funding of this sort will not be provided.