To think schools should get with the times re working parents.

[working8til4]

Why can't they be open 8-6 for everyone? It would help reduce gender inequality in the work place

AIBU - DON'T BE SILLY
YANBU - actually you have a point

Gender inequality is partly down to people not expecting that men lean into childcare, pickups etc. Other countries have managed to encourage men to deal with their fair share of the load. I think that would be better

8-6 is far too long but I would like to see more wraparound care options before and after school and more holiday childcare available as our school has none.

Most schools are open 8-6, it’s just the free bit - the education bit - is usually only 9-3:30ish and the rest is breakfast/after school club.

it would be perfectly possible for the government to fund before and after school places for every child. It would be logistically tricky for most schools and government funding levels really rely of schools being able to rent out space after school/evenings.

but it’s do-able. Actual lesson time from 8-6 seems pointlessly horrible in primary and at secondary, they can just get themselves home.

would pretty much wipe out the childminder business model.

No I didn't. Our mortgage shot up last year

Long days and wraparound can be hard for children. My ds didnt cope and I ended up quitting work as his MH was declining rapidly

The irony that my husband does all drop offs, because I'm a teacher 😂.

Get a better husband.

Yes - but for most people they do act as childcare. Op has a point why is the working day 9-5 but school only 9-3pm?

Yes. DH and I are teachers. We chose a school that offered wraparound from 7.30-5.45. We split the drop off and collections between us as even these times so not fit with meetings/parents evenings/open evenings/events etc. it’s difficult but that’s family life. I’m not sure why you are blaming schools?

So teachers should literally be worn to the ground?

Anyone with a brain knew the low interest rates wouldn't last forever.

You chose your mortgage.

No one else, you.

How is it going to be staffed and financed?

Never mind the fact that kids would struggle with this it would be of no use to parents like me who work full time rotating shift patterns 😵‍💫

Child care is an absolute nightmare for me but I have to make it work or else I quit my job and sign on.

But I get your frustrations OP, childcare is soo expensive and many jobs are inflexible.

Thank you even if it was something like every child gets a breakfast club and after school club place if they want it it would help

I think it should be the other way around actually. Workplaces should offer flexible working hours and a 3pm finish as 'normal' I have a full time job, mainly wfh and a boss who couldn't give a shit what hours I work as long as the job is done. Works out brilliantly around school. I am fortunate to have decent wrap around care too but if that ever fails I don't need stress too much about it.

What?? What you on about? I don’t see your point at all. Are you suggesting that life, careers, family help etc remains constant in the 5 years between conception and school start, and then continues on, unchanging through primary school? What ‘shit’ are you even referring to 😵‍💫 nonsense.

OP workplaces need to bend to accommodate working parents. The new flexible working bill is a good step.

There is no money to pay for an extra four hours a day to be staffed.
There are insufficient teachers and they are leaving in droves, so it might be that there may be part time schooling in the future.
If you value education you’ll know that school isn’t childcare.
Who will pay for the wrap around care?
Who will want to do it?

Instead of regarding the problem lying with schools, consider that the problem might lie with inflexible working patterns and companies.

These threads become so offensive. DH and I are both patient facing NHS. We don’t earn much. We work long shifts. I don’t agree at all that schools should be childcare. Equally though, do I not deserve kids as much as someone who has the luxury of WFH flexibly just because I don’t see my kids as much?

Many schools are open 8-6, its called wraparound care which pay extra for. If that's something you need, check which schools have it available when picking your school

No child could learn for 10 hours straight

No teacher could teach for 10 hours straight.

Yes it would help working parents but why would it help gender equality? What, because its compulsory for only mums to do pick and drop off? Nope, it's not. My husband does 3 days pick up and drop off, I do 2. And I see loads of Dads on school run, on average at least a third of parents on our school run are Dads.

The private schools round here all boast about 8-6 included in the fees so it's not just you OP.

You've got 60 hours a week to cover for each role. That's essentially doubling the wages and the employers' expenses. Then there's the additional costs of lighting and heating the place, the loss of private hires...

Can't be done on under six grand a kid.

It's unusual for front line NHS shifts to be 9-6 every day though. Usually they're a 4 day long shift week(apologies if this isn't the case for you)

The people who work in the fancy offices and get paid loads probably don’t expect free childcare.

Definitely not. Children need to spend their free time with family or carers who love them. It's employers/ cost of living/ flexible working that needs to change

Don't get so defensive I'm not blaming schools. I'm saying it could help if the government decided to change things. Who says it has to finish at 3?

How is it going to be staffed and financed?

The current way, external providers & payed for by parents?