Say it with me...

[TesChique]

School. Is. Not. There. To. Be. Free. Childcare.

All this talk of bringing the school summer holidays down to four weeks is boiling me as not one argument is child education centred. Instead its all focussed on making parents lives easier

It is six weeks for more complex reasons than "oh its from when we had farms and we dont have farms now lol oh also itd help me"

Why can't parents find other means of childcare in the holidays? I managed to and did not expect the schools to do this for me. I think you are completely wrong; it's the parents responsibility to source childcare whether it's via an au pair, summer camps, other family members etc. schools ARE there to educate our kids it's YOUR responsibility to find childcare.

Summer could be a time for developing other interests and activities for kids.
The idea of using the school grounds by outside companies over the summer is a good one. I’m sure that used to happen in some areas where they ran play schemes.
There doesn’t have to be a loss of learning over the summer but there does tend to be an attitude of “let the kids relax and do nothing” from society.
Summer could be a brilliant time to develop other skills and interests but unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be the opportunity for many if both parents work full time, no reasonable provision and holidays are usually seen as more time to game or be on screens for most kids.
Many countries have much longer summer holidays and seem to have no concerns over the loss of learning.

Very sorry, but I hugely disagree with you. I realise this is a platform for parents but I felt the need to say something. I am currently in high school and am SEND along with other issues and personally I think making breaks shorter is a horrible idea as by the end if the year I (and a lot of others I know) are so burnt out that we rely on the longer break to recover from the year while the shorter holidays are worse as as soon as you start to get better you’re thrown right back in and it does nothing to help. I also believe that teachers also need the time to recuperate after dealing with students the whole year who tbh don’t treat them all the best. I realise it is a struggle for parents to look after a kid for an extended period of time or find an affordable holiday club but that doesn’t mean children should have to lose out on life outside of school and as a lot of others have stated even though school does act as childcare it is not the main focus of the education system and while I believe a lot could be changed about it for the better I do not believe it should be changed for the convenience of parents over the welfare of the child and anyone who thinks so is not thinking about the child’s best interests or education but what suits them better and that is not the way to go about changing an honestly broken system.

My child couldn't cope at nursery. He was withdrawn from school when it became clear it was too much for him, and was slowly eroding his confidence, sense of self and his physical self - he was so anxious he wasn't eating, he lost weight. School arrogantly thought their way was best, we removed him and slowly built him back to the young man he is today.

Kids don't always follow the patterns we want them to. They aren't ours for a few years then 'off you go'. School isn't free childcare, school is a net good but not everyone is going to be able to access it without harm. We just accept that it's ok because it's the done thing, or assume a baby will be born without additional needs. I swear some people don't even like their kids that much. You're not wrong, OP.

School is child care.

I think school hols needs an overall. For lots of children it isn’t just learning lost, but fitness and increase in obesity. Home isn’t always happy…

From my perspective I’d much rather see holidays more evenly distributed, the autumn term is often so long, knackering for kids. If all terms were 6 weeks 7 max I think this would suit all kuds

This is insane. Why don't we just send kids to boarding school when they are born and pick them up when they are 18? Then kick them out so they can get a job and their own place. Are you seriously saying kids need to be in school for their own fitness?! 🤦🏼‍♀️ In summer mine will be outside, in the playground, riding their bike or at the beach swimming.

I think the problem is that we used to be able to live on one wage, and now we can't. Quality of life has gone backwards. People need to be campaigning for one wage to sustain a family, a couple, or a single person without them having a shit quality of life. It just doesn't at the moment.

People need to be campaigning for one wage to sustain a family, a couple,

That's never going to happen, we have an ageing population for one.

This is basically how it works in France.

Holiday care for my DS costs about €30 per day. But it's means tested, with families on low incomes paying a lot less.

I think we have the highest housing costs in Europe and our average salaries are low to average compared to Europe. This why most of us would struggle in one salary.

The easy solution would be for the government to bring compulsory holidays for employees in line with schools. Alas, capitalism.

My daughter is in school in Europe and she 11-12 weeks summer holiday and we love it as a family. I would image UK private schools would keep the extra long summer holidays too.

That’s great that yours have the opportunity to stay active over the summer, mine do too.

For clarity, what I am saying is, In more deprived communities there are additional challenges to learning loss that children face. One of these is loss of fitness through lack of safe spaces / opportunity and an increased rise in obesity. Home I’m not always safe and happy.

For me, schools holiday should be spread out more evenly to reduce some of the challenges.

Why should everyone miss out due to some in this category, why would we align to the lowest common denominator and not address the root cause instead?

No, you’re totally incorrect. Society has changed in that more Mothers (who years ago provided all the childcare) are now working, that’s what has changed, the role of Schools hasn’t changed. Schools are there to educate children, not to provide childcare!

Shorter holidays is not the answer to those problems. Why are outdoor spaces not safe? Why are some kids eating so badly, they’re getting obese over the holidays? Those are the problems and there are more direct solutions so children can stay fit and healthy.

I like this but as a teacher it would be hell, the last week/first week back from a break are lost usually to the students being too excited or tired so we'd lose a lot of learning time

Dd school has already made cuts/changes from this September the terms have changed and they are getting 2 weeks in October and the summer holiday will only be 5 weeks. Dd is happy she’s getting 2 weeks in October but then gutted she’s only getting 5 for the summer. I think as a kid it’s what you work for towards the end of term. I don’t think of school as childcare, I’m literally sending her there to learn, she learns the life skills off me, academics are for the school. I do wish they’d reign in all the ridiculous rules they put in place, eg the nuts regs over uniform and what you can and can’t have for lunch but otherwise she’s my child. She’s just there for the learning 🫠

I can see this from both sides. Been a teacher for 15 years, I’m on my knees by the summer. I absolutely love having the 6 weeks with my kids, it’s my quality time with them. But schools don’t get enough money as it is, Let alone having to pay teachers more for more teaching weeks. I imagine a lot more teachers would consider leaving.

School is not free childcare.

However, and I say this as someone who works in education, it is a massive struggle with how the economy is these days. Most families have to have two full time working parents. There isn’t enough annual leave (granted I work in a school so don’t have this issue but fully sympathise with people who do.) Holiday clubs in my area are at least £30 per day. Not many grandparents are able to retire young.

And also, as someone who works in education, this last summer term needs a week in the middle to break it up. Our term is over 8 weeks, the kids are exhausted, plus throwing in the random extreme hot weather. They need a break. I can honestly say for the last week or two, nothings going in, they’re tired, exhausted and overwhelmed.

I agree. My two are shattered now and 3 heatwaves before end of term didn't help! From the perspective of the child they need this downtime. I remember carefree summers when I was young and I feel that's important for their well being. What we should be looking at is employers, more flexible working hours where they can or summer Fridays, where staff get to take a half day. This currently happens in my DHs company as productivity drops of in the month of August. In return staff realise this and work more effectively during peak months. We keep up the learning through summer activity books, the library challenge and there are plenty of educational tools online.

If only that were so.

There just needs to be more provision during the holidays like they do it lots of other countries. Doesn't need to be run by teachers. I went to one as a dc despite having a SAHM.

I dont think the holidays should be shortened, but its disingenuous to not acknowledge why some parents struggle. The real answer is for annual leave to be increased so people can have a better balance overall and this would also mean a couple (let alone a single parent) would have enough holiday to be able to cover school holidays. That would improve life all round, but it'll never happen (and having been a teacher I know full well plenty of teachers would be the first to moan and claim how unfair that is). Holidays clubs are okay if you can afford them or find a suitable one in the first place.

Holidays clubs are okay if you can afford them or find a suitable one in the first place.

subsidised holiday clubs are more realistic then every employee getting an extra months holiday.