School day

[Gwendolinee]

In our recent primary newsletter we were told that the school day has increased at the behest of the DofE. I’m really not onboard with this especially at primary. My son is y1 and is one of the youngest. Is this as a result of Covid?

It's an extra 15 to 30 minutes a day, you're sounding like hard work.

It wasn't the school's decision to make your life so unfair, it was the DofE.

The rest of us are getting on board with it so why can't you?

If your kid is that tired, look at bed times, diet and maybe chuck in a vitamin supplement.

We had the school day increased slightly in 2022 when my DD was still at Primary. They took 10 minutes off lunch and added 10 minutes onto the school day.

Does he not do any extra curricular activities? Why is he so tired after school?

DS' school have a soft start 8:30-8:50 register at 8:50 , finish at 3:15, juniors is 8:45-9 finish at 3:25 (on the same site)

Also when I first read the OP I read DofE as Duke of Edinburgh

Awake in the mornings? You don't know my DC! 😂

Meanwhile our council area wants to cut Friday afternoons with no extension to school day (primary and secondary) M-W 🤨 🙄

So you're not onboard with it....what's your plan? Home educate? Private school?

Our school did this last year when my son was in year 1. We still managed to do normal things after school.

He really shouldn’t be?

Our school did this from last September, one of my DC was starting year 1 and it has been absolutely fine, haven’t noticed the difference at all. The alternative is cutting back on their down time during the school day which I would think likely to have a bigger impact on the children than a small amount of time added on to the start/finish - and by the sounds of it hiss school was very short, ours only needed to extend by 10mins

It is literally the opposite of unfair.
This has been brought in to precisely to make it fair so that children everywhere get the same amount of schooling.
2.5hours a week, every week adds up to a LOT of schooling over the 7 years of Primary school.
As others have said, if a child in Year One isn't coping with a normal length school day, without any known medical needs, then perhaps that is something you should look at.

As a single parent who works I am jealous of all your longer school days. In Scotland my 6 year old does 9-2.50 M-T and 9-12.20 on Fridays!!

Why is it unfair? All the schools are doing this, so all the kids will be in the same boat.
My DS is starting reception this year and their school day is increasing this year too. He's a summer baby and will no doubt be exhausted but I don't see it's unfair.

Why is he so shattered, that isn't normal at his age to be shattered by a school day. He should well be able to handle it, plus more. Our girls school day is 7.30 to 4, then straight to homework club and still have more energy, they all do.

@Sunshineandpool I used to see it all the time especially on Mondays when children have been allowed to stay up late Friday and Saturday, some children are so tired and it does affect their schooling.

Ds2 is now 18, it is the summer holidays and guess what time he rolls out of bed? Yes, 5am, by choice, he loves mornings. So your children may never grow out of it. The good news is you don't have to get up with them when they get a bit older.

I think you do need to consider bed times, and not later at weekends, also reduce any screen time.

Comparing school to nursery or after school activities isn't equitable.School generally is sit in your chair and pay attention. Nursery and activities are usually active engagement.

A lot of children struggle with the change and it is completely developmentally appropriate. Look across the world many countries don't start formal schooling until age 7.

In Ireland for the first three years they did 08:30-13:20, with two decent breaks and yoga morning start.

I don’t understand everyone saying it’s a good thing!

What would be your ideal school day length then?

DDs varied between 5hrs35min (but only a 10 min plus 25min break) and 6.hrs45 (with an hour for lunch and two 15 minute breaks). It made no difference to how tiring the school day was.

9:30-2:30 ideal
so they still have some quality time at home to unwind

I take it your child has a SAHP then.

The school mine had with the shortest school day finished at 1pm... Great for those with a parent at home. The rest needed nannies....

With wfh being more prevalent these days it works. Most mums at my school wfh.

9.30 - 2.30? Don't be daft. How much time does he need to unwind? I bet you're horrified at all the poor mites who have to go to breakfast and after school clubs.

If you are wfh you are not giving quality time to your child.

That works nicely if the infants and juniors are next door. Our infants and juniors are a mile apart so it's not physically possible to get from one to the other in 5 minutes.

I am very jealous of all your late start times. In my country kids start school at 7:45 and finish at 1:05 for primary and 1:20 for secondary...it's complete madness. No school lunches and three month summer holidays! Thank goodness September will be my last child's last year at school :)