Extending school term at end of July

[NeverForgetYourDreams]

That's not going to work. Another ridiculous idea. What about all those people that moved their cancelled holidays for 2020 by a year. Summer holidays may go ahead if vaccine roll out happens and who is going to cancel and lose their money - I'm not. Will be lots of absent children.

@Italiandreams

Those saying they get the time at Christmas, what about teachers leaving or retiring?

Maybe 2 weeks extra pay would be good? or if it was just provided for those children OFF now, there would need to be less staff in so these individuals could leave or retire as planned?

@palacegirl77

Hold on a minute though, so far most of this thread has been that teachers wont want to work those extra 2 weeks - but if theyre being paid for them? They would get extra time off at Christmas and ultimately would be able to do a lot more work outside, have windows open etc and be safer - isnt that a plus point? If they have a holiday booked that would have to be looked at - although maybe the numbers could just be those children that are off currently (i.e. not taking up keyworker spaces or being taught, the ones who will need the catchup) and maybe smaller classes could still allow for those that need the time to take it unpaid if required?

I don't want extra time off in November and January, thank you very much. And re: being safer with windows open - wouldn't it be "safer" just to close the fucking schools for the summer holiday as per usual?

[quote palacegirl77]@DBML you mean like it is currently? for those of us at home now, day in and day out? Would you not rather be in a school with windows and doors open and lower rates of infection?[/quote]
Exactly...who wants more of that next Christmas! Let’s get out this summer and enjoy!!!!! (But not in school).

@Italiandreams

How productive do you think those two weeks will be when children are tired and teachers are tired? There are way better ways to improve educational outcomes. I hate the word catch up because it’s so meaningless .

I doubt my child will be that tired, after being off school for nearly 9 months. 2 extra weeks would be so beneficial to her. And surely safer for teachers to be in school when rates are lower than when high (as they will be next winter)?

Maybe don't believe everything in the media

Thank you palacegirl

For those children not currently in school to gain an extra 2 weeks education to help them catch up to those keyworker children in school being taught. Extra reading etc - at a time it would be safer to be in school (windows open etc) than in the winter.

I only teach y10-13. My year 11 and 13 classes will have done their assessments and left. Their schooling legally ends on the last Friday in June, so they'd not be coming in.
My year 10 and 12 students are all attending online lessons, mostly working hard, and wouldn't benefit from this in any way, shape or form.
Even if they needed to "catch up" two weeks wouldn't cut it, would it? And if it's extra reading, they can read at home. As they're doing now.

"or if it was just provided for those children OFF now, there would need to be less staff in so these individuals could leave or retire as planned?"

Which children are OFF now?

@Aab1234

@ DBML absolutely none of your business. But I have been paying for a lot of people not to work, that’s for sure.

Me too!

Well whatever it is you’re doing, you are probably not working hard enough are you. I’m not noticing many benefits...so unless you’re my Amazon delivery guy, try harder.

"I doubt my child will be that tired, after being off school for nearly 9 months."
Why has your child been off school for nine months? Why aren't they doing the schoolwork being set, like everyone else?

The same people who talk about children’s well being seem to want them crammed into classrooms for longer. I can’t see how that is good for their well being. Children do not learn by having lots more information thrown at them in a short space of time, they can only retain so much at a time and need time to process.

@CallmeAngelina Do you know how that resinates though with those of us currently at home day in and out trying to work and educate our children? We'd all rather be off enjoying ourselves but surely you must be concerned about those children out of school that have missed 9 months of school? Do you not want to help them at all?

ChardonnaysPetDragon
But you did, you said it was a good idea so roll your sleeves up and crack on!

@Aab1234

Well then they need to sort it out with their employers. Here’s some advice from the from the government. www.gov.uk/overtime-your-rights/compulsory-overtime

As I said, most teachers already do well beyond their contracted hours in evenings and weekends.

Demanding a whole 10 days like spoiled children makes the government and certain parents groups look silly.

I’d like to see the education research that shows two random weeks tacked onto the end of term is going to ‘catch up’ all the things some children have missed (and it is only some).

Don't think the tourism Industry would be too keen either. People spend more in days out in the summer.

[quote DBML]@ChardonnaysPetDragon

I always get defensive when people are being assholes.

What do you do Dragon?[/quote]
I suspect that she mainly pisses people off on the internet.

In teaching there is already a lot of unpaid overtime. A full time 32.5 hours a week paid contract is regularly 45- 50 hours plus for a full time teacher in pre covid times.

All these people judging the work load of school staff are the ones who need to get real. I never make judgements about other people’s jobs but it’s all too easy for people to criticise school staff on the small part of the job they see which is like the tip of the iceberg.

In short school staff should not be asked to do 2 extra weeks for free. If pay is being offered for these weeks then it should be on a voluntary basis not arm twisting and guilt tripping which is what a lot of SLTs like to do.

Children should be taking part in all the fun things they’ve missed out on by being at home such as team sports and socialising if that’s possible in the summer not more traditional classroom learning.

Because I believe in rolling my sleeves up and cracking on.

But then I’m self employed. No one pays me to sit around and post on MN.

@palacegirl77 how old are your children because primary school children will be exhausted after two seven week terms after Easter. They will not be receptive to a nine week term, anyone that works in a primary school will tell you any terms longer than six weeks are seriously hard going.

@MrsHamlet

Thank you palacegirl

For those children not currently in school to gain an extra 2 weeks education to help them catch up to those keyworker children in school being taught. Extra reading etc - at a time it would be safer to be in school (windows open etc) than in the winter.

I only teach y10-13. My year 11 and 13 classes will have done their assessments and left. Their schooling legally ends on the last Friday in June, so they'd not be coming in.
My year 10 and 12 students are all attending online lessons, mostly working hard, and wouldn't benefit from this in any way, shape or form.
Even if they needed to "catch up" two weeks wouldn't cut it, would it? And if it's extra reading, they can read at home. As they're doing now.

I was referring to Primary to be honest. The online learning is the same for all senior pupils in my daughters school (i.e. not face to face teaching for anyone) but in my daughters primary, 18 out of 29 kids are IN and being taught by a teacher. The rest (like my daughter) are muddling though with parents trying to work and who arent professionals. Im actually paying teachers a compliment here, we are no replacement for them and 2 weeks with a professional would be so beneficial to my daughter after 9 months off.

[quote palacegirl77]@CallmeAngelina Do you know how that resinates though with those of us currently at home day in and out trying to work and educate our children? We'd all rather be off enjoying ourselves but surely you must be concerned about those children out of school that have missed 9 months of school? Do you not want to help them at all?[/quote]
Many teachers are working from home and also homeschooling. I know I am. I also have a toddler.

I think the money would be better spent on extra staff in the classroom to help children during the usual term time.

I don't believe two extra weeks will help

@callmeangelina you clearly have no idea how little work children who have two full time working parents are actually doing!

Where have these 9 mythical months off come from?
It's more accurate than the 18 that were being peddled the other day, admittedly, but still!

@mumsneedwine

Anyone thinking U4T are back in business tonight 😂

Yep! Bless them. They've been kicking their heels for the last few weeks, wondering what bandwagon to jump on.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Because I believe in rolling my sleeves up and cracking on.

But then I’m self employed. No one pays me to sit around and post on MN.

Who gets paid to sit on Mn? It's Sunday evening. Or are you having a go at people on furlough?

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Teachers don’t get paid on Sunday.