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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Golden Time at Infants

31 replies

ShoeJunkie · 20/03/2022 07:50

In this DS2s infant school newsletter this week the head announced they were doing away with golden time on a Friday for year 1 and year 2 to give more time for the curriculum.

AIBU to think this is a little unfair halfway through the school year given the disruption they have all had throughout the whole time they’ve been at school so far.

Interested to know if other schools have done this too.

OP posts:
GeneLovesJezebel · 20/03/2022 07:51

I think it’s wrong to stop it for two years, they should stop it for all, or not stop it.

Whinge · 20/03/2022 07:55

If your school is anything like mine golden time is about an hour on a Friday afternoon. If this is the case then seems ridiculous to cut it out and try to increase curriculum time. No one is able to concentrate on a Friday afternoon, so introducing any extra learning time would be pointless.

In short, YANBU

TwiggletLover · 20/03/2022 07:56

What is golden time? That isn't a universal thing that every school has

GahAndTheBear · 20/03/2022 07:57

@GeneLovesJezebel

I think it’s wrong to stop it for two years, they should stop it for all, or not stop it.
It probably wasn’t used in KS2.
Original poster
ShoeJunkie · 20/03/2022 08:00

@GeneLovesJezebel it’s infants so they’ve stopped it for all KS1. My older DC still has an equivalent on a Friday afternoon at the junior school.

OP posts:
RandomDent · 20/03/2022 08:06

I haven’t done golden time for years! I didn’t know anyone still did it.

BuanoKubiamVej · 20/03/2022 08:08

That's crazy, and counterproductive. At my DCs junior school throughout YR-Y6 kids could earn an extra 5 or 10 minutes of golden time through consistent good effort and focus throughout the rest of the week and could be docked 5 or 10 minutes of golden time as a consequence of poor behaviour. Abolishing it would only have resulted in an overal deterioration in focus and effort so no net benefit to anyone.

Annoyedandirritated · 20/03/2022 08:09

Wtf is golden time?

ClarasZoo · 20/03/2022 08:10

I could never understand this. Is this when, if they have been good, they are told they can step back from learning and do what they like? Surely the messaging should be- you have all behaved really well, well done- we can do some more learning!!!

jupitermars1345 · 20/03/2022 08:10

That brings back memories of school
Golden time
I don't think our infant school does it at all

Whinge · 20/03/2022 08:11

@Annoyedandirritated

Wtf is golden time?
Usually a hour on a Friday afternoon where children can choose their own activities, play with toys and games, draw, colour, play outside. A period of free time where they don't need to sit down and learn.
Hankunamatata · 20/03/2022 08:13

I'm guessing children have fallen massively behind with covid and need more intervention or parents putting pressure on the school

Greentomatoes21 · 20/03/2022 08:20

Golden Time is basically play time - free choice type of activities in the classroom. I find it so sad that it should be removed for any reason, not least to fit in the curriculum. Squeezing play out of a 6 year old's day/week?? YANBU. These people are CHILDREN. Play should be a priority.

Green7712 · 20/03/2022 08:27

This is not a surprise given how much schools are expected to squeeze into the curriculum, even in KS1. Golden time is not high quality play. It is an hour at the end of the week where colouring or Lego etc are pulled out. Teachers don’t tend to interact to steer the play. Children have opportunities for play through their learning and break times. It may feel harsh but it is a reality of offering a broad and high quality curriculum.

cansu · 20/03/2022 08:31

Many schools have got rid of fun activities. It is sad but is a result of the drive to raise standards. Anything like golden time is also not well seen by ofsted.

Seashor · 20/03/2022 08:38

We have Golden time or as I call it Independent learning time. It’s really valuable. I get a chance to hear individual readers and go over maths that children might need extra input on and the children get to put all those social skills they have talked about in assembly and PSHE, into practice .
We might go outside and have an opportunity to use the PE equipment or team building equipment. There should be more of it not less of it.

Original poster
ShoeJunkie · 20/03/2022 08:39

Hmm, I think @cansu you have hit it the nail on the head - it’s an outstanding school overdue an ofsted! I’m guessing this is why the decision has been made.
Just seems a little unfair after so much change and disruption but not the end of the world.
Thanks all Smile

OP posts:
HeyGirlHeyBoy · 20/03/2022 08:41

Depressing. And following on from the thread on being a teacherin the UK, doubly so (Irish teacher here).

Barbie222 · 20/03/2022 08:43

There isn't really time for that now, likely. It's difficult to justify when there's such a focus on catch up. Before Covid I used golden time for interventions and support anyway, it was just that it wasn't the whole class who needed to do it!

Simonjt · 20/03/2022 08:46

My sons school still has it, some parenta did complain as they were worried their childs sats grade in year 6 may be slightly lower. So the school suggested that those with concerns could opt out of independent learning and instead their children would do an additional hour of work in the study zone with the PPA cover supervisor.

Onionpatch · 20/03/2022 08:48

It was scrapped at our school ages ago. It was controversial with parents but i dont think the children really noticed.
The head increased the amount of learning through play the rest of the time. She also said teachers should give a bit of free play at their discretion rather than a set friday thing. They have a half termly treat for good behaviour.

RandomDent · 20/03/2022 08:49

It also depends on what else happens in class. My ks1 class has very play based informal learning through the week. Golden time wouldn’t be much different.

RAOK · 20/03/2022 08:54

In fairness I think lots of schools scrapped it ages ago. Hopefully they will do more art, music etc and not extra maths on a Friday afternoon.

ClarasZoo · 20/03/2022 08:59

@Seashor

We have Golden time or as I call it Independent learning time. It’s really valuable. I get a chance to hear individual readers and go over maths that children might need extra input on and the children get to put all those social skills they have talked about in assembly and PSHE, into practice . We might go outside and have an opportunity to use the PE equipment or team building equipment. There should be more of it not less of it.
I agree- Much better to call it independent learning..
twominutesmore · 20/03/2022 10:06

I didn't know schools still did this either. I'm impressed they managed to hang on to it for so long.

It'll probably just mean they end up doing something like art, PE, ICT or drama - something children usually get excited about doing - on the Friday afternoon instead.

It would be very hard to justify golden time if you couldn't find time to teach all of the year group objectives. Even if it's only an hour, it's 40 hours across the year.