Page 5 | School children arriving late on Monday due to Footie

Muncher75 · 2021-07-09T16:51:51+00:00

This was doing the rounds on my social media today, I am a teacher, so Is it just me or is this a bad idea? Children have hardly been in school this year anyway. More importantly, I feel that it’s teaching our children the wrong life lesson. Surely, if you choose to stay up late then suck it up on Monday! You can’t be swanning in late on a Monday to work after a weekend of partying.... interested to know if it’s just me. For the record, I enjoy watching football!

Starlightstarbright1 · 09/07/2021 19:29

Whilst I rwaluse you don't. My ds today we had 2 suplies so just watched videos.. there are a lot of teachers isolating in our school .

melj1213 · 09/07/2021 19:30

My DDs school is doing the same thing and I think it is a good thing. Her school has a morning break 10:30-10:45am so school have said that as long as children are in before the end of morning break they will not be marked as late/absent.

My DD will be staying up for the game and she will be going to school on Monday. However, if the game goes to extra time and/or penalties then the game may not even be finished until 11/11.30pm. There's no way she will be going to bed the second the final whistle goes so I would not expecting her to be in bed much before midnight if it went that late (not that she would be able to anyway since we live in the town centre and thr noise from all the local bars etc that are showing the game would definitely keep her up) ... for a child who is normally in bed and asleep by 9pm that's at least 3hrs past her bedtime.

I know my DD does not do well if she has a late night and if I try to wake her up at her usual wake up time then she will be grumpy, tired and I know that she won't be able to concentrate or learn properly. Her school allowing her to come in up to 2hrs late means that depending on when the game finishes I have options as to when to send her in knowing that she is in the right mindset to learn. If it finishes by 10pm then she will probably go in at her normal time but if it finishes later then I know I can let her have a bit of a lie in without being penalised for it.

If it was a case of go in late (and be penalised) or not at all, many parents would just let their kids have the day off, which is far more disruptive to both the children and the schools. Additionally it isn't fair on the children who don't have an option - if they're too young or live too far from school to get to school independently etc - if their parents don't get up in time to do the school run then they will miss a day of education because "well, you're late now just have the day off".

This kind of flexibility as a one off means that they are more likely to get more kids in at some point on Monday and they'd rather have the kids in late than not at all.

drumandthebass · 09/07/2021 19:32

I think it's a nice thing and you're being a bit miserable. It is the last week of term as well when its more of a 'fun' week

Rioja81 · 09/07/2021 19:32

I'm on the fence. I work in a school that's doing this, so sadly my kids will be in normal time with me. We are normally quite strict on bedtime so as they're otherwise well rested they'll be fine. I, on the other hand, will be knackered 😂

We are not massive football fans by any stretch, but will watch it.

I will however roll my eyes next time school are perturbed by lateness, or a request to attend a wedding or whatever.

CreamFirstThenJamOnTop · 09/07/2021 19:33

DD school are not marking children as late until after 10.30
Makes no difference to us as dd is isolating so won’t be in school, nor is she interested in watching the footy.
I think it’s a nice gesture though - people needs some positivity at the moment.

Planty13 · 09/07/2021 19:34

My school are doing it. It’s a bit of fun, a one off and they hardly do much work in the last week of term anyway!

ForeverSausages · 09/07/2021 19:34

OP you'd rather a full class full of tired kids rather than half a class turn up an hour and a half late not so tired? Today 11 kids were at school in my son's class due to self isolation. What were you planning to do in that hour and a half that couldn't possibly be missed? Genuinely curious.

ForeverSausages · 09/07/2021 19:36

Oh actually re-reading your OP it's not even your school that are doing it by the sounds of it. Have a good Monday! It's coming home!! .

Whinge · 09/07/2021 19:39

By letting children come in late they know most will be there. If they stick to the normal time then some will just stay off the whole day.

This is the reason our school have decided to allow a later start. Staff will be in as normal and breakfast club will be open from 7.30am for those who need it. However, we recognise that it's going to be a late night for most, and the parents have been appreciative of the flexibility.

SamW98 · 09/07/2021 19:39

I think after what our kids have had to deal with the last 15 months, its just a bit churlish to begrudge them one night of excitement with their family where potentially history will be made.

They've missed months of school because of the pandemic, and people are moaning about a couple of hours - seriously??

arethereanyleftatall · 09/07/2021 19:41

I wouldnt mind it, dd is very happy so fine, EXCEPT from the fact that it is so blooming sexist and sends out such a bad message to our children. Women in the final in 2009, what, who knew. Now, men in the final, come on children, let's get supporting. You can see from this thread and the amount of people saying it's 55 years since we've been in the euro football final, no it bloody isn't, it's 12 years.

Original poster

Muncher75 · 09/07/2021 19:42

@ForeverSausages
We are performing our play mid week to parents. We can’t practise the play without the full cast.... I only have TA support for some of the day so this also has to be considered when planning. Lots of thought goes into our weekly lesson planning in advance, so to have this thrown into the mix is a real curve ball. As usual we will adapt with a smile! 😀

OP posts:

andromedana · 09/07/2021 19:43

It's been a shit year and it's a one off. For the sake of a couple of hours, why not? It's a special occasion and a rare one at that, plenty of employers are doing similar things.

Iloveacurry · 09/07/2021 19:43

A late night won’t kill them. They can go to bed early on Monday.

2 years ago (when we could go abroad!) we got back from our holiday very late, the kids aged 10 and 8 got to bed at 2.30am. They went to school that morning. They were fine!

x2boys · 09/07/2021 19:44

I see the kill joys are out in force as usual, it's a possible once in a life time event just let the kids enjoy it.

melj1213 · 09/07/2021 19:46

Stay up and watch by all means. But then deal with the tiredness.

I agree, and if it was a Saturday night then DD would be my problem the following day, but is it really fair to inflict 30 overtired and grumpy primary school children on a teacher because they have to be at school by 8:45 or not come in at all?

If you were working you wouldn’t get a free pass to come in late?

I work late shifts anyway so I can have a lie in as late as I like, but for many people they have the option to book Monday as a holiday to take the day off (not an option for kids in term time) /use flexitime to start late (basically what the school is doing). Additionally some employers have actually given their employees a free pass to come in late in acknowledgement that they would rather have (slightly more) rested and productive employees than over tired, hungover ones who will do very little work because of that.

And what about those who aren’t watching? Are they expected to turn up on time?

If you aren't watching then you can drop your kids off at their usual time ... all they are saying is that they would rather have the children come in late than not at all so parents have the option to drop their kids off late. School might officially start at 9am but in acknowledgement of the situation they will allow the children to come in late without I being officially marked as absent/late.

My school used to do this for various reasons - if kids were away on school events eg sports tours/ music competitions etc and they didn't get back until late (either through travel from the competition venue or because the event finished late in the evening) then the school would always allow those children to have the following morning off and come in after lunch.

BlueSurfer · 09/07/2021 19:47

[quote Muncher75]@Rosesareyellow yes, I’m still leaning towards your viewpoint.
I would rather have tired children in my class on Monday morning than half a class or less.
I get that it’s a ‘one off’ but what’s the problem with children being in school tired as a ‘one off’? Showing resilience, perseverance and understanding of the consequences of having a late night enjoying an historical event.[/quote]
I’m not sure YR/KS1 at the very least are capable of understanding the consequences of a late night or having the resilience to deal with it.

ForeverSausages · 09/07/2021 19:48

[quote Muncher75]@ForeverSausages
We are performing our play mid week to parents. We can’t practise the play without the full cast.... I only have TA support for some of the day so this also has to be considered when planning. Lots of thought goes into our weekly lesson planning in advance, so to have this thrown into the mix is a real curve ball. As usual we will adapt with a smile! 😀[/quote]
I get that. Unfortunately our school is down to at least half due to bubbles bursting so school play and sports day were cancelled. As were all before and after school clubs. His only thing to look forward to at the moment is the football Sunday. His school aren't opening later but he'll be staying up (feel sorry for his teacher having to deal with him Monday though haha).

warmfluffytowels · 09/07/2021 19:50

Loads of workplaces near here are closing early Sunday night and opening late on Monday.

I really can't get worked up about it.

Original poster

Muncher75 · 09/07/2021 19:54

@ForeverSausages
What a pity! I really hope he enjoys the footie!

OP posts:

FlyingBattie · 09/07/2021 19:57

If the school is allowing it, it's no different to an adult being given permission to start work late the day after an event.
It would be wrong if parents took it upon themselves, but since the school seems to be suggesting it, IMO it's fine.

ForeverSausages · 09/07/2021 19:59

Have everything crossed that we win hahaha. I'm pleased that plays are going ahead at your school though and I hope the late start doesn't cause you too much grief .

saoirse31 · 09/07/2021 20:02

It's a once in a lifetime (maybe) event, it's a national achievement/ celebration, children have had a crap year.... So yabu. And I m supporting Italy but after past year how could begrudge celebrating the occasion

ButteringMyArse · 09/07/2021 20:04

The whingeing and moralising about this is absolutely hilarious, I must say. England getting to the final is just the gift that keeps on giving.

DietrichandDiMaggio · 09/07/2021 20:05

@arethereanyleftatall

I wouldnt mind it, dd is very happy so fine, EXCEPT from the fact that it is so blooming sexist and sends out such a bad message to our children. Women in the final in 2009, what, who knew. Now, men in the final, come on children, let's get supporting. You can see from this thread and the amount of people saying it's 55 years since we've been in the euro football final, no it bloody isn't, it's 12 years.

But most people don't care as much about women's football, no matter how much people say they should, and the standard is just not comparable to top level men's football.