Do you disagree with the Longer school hours proposed?

[aproudmum]

If like me for many reasons do not - can you please sign and share this petition -
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/change-of-hours-for-schooling

should have read if you disagree like me!

I'm on the fence about this

I have already signed...school should not be about cheap childcare...Parents need time to parent their children... Recpetion children in particular are so tired...They are all shattered by the time the holidays are coming up...

I went in to see the class work last term ( all parents invited) some of the work was outside...As soon as I walked in he dragged me outside..Desperate to leave classroom... He is 6...

Can't see how it benefits the children in any way...

I have already signed. I am appalled that anyone thinks it is a good idea.

Is this a petition website that the government mighty take notice of? How many votes would it take for anyone important to care?

I'm on the fence too... if you work, like an awful lot of parents do, it would be a lot easier to know your child is cared for in one place rather than the hassle and disruption of childminders and breakfast/afterschool clubs, which are often run by outside providers and are often not that great.

My understanding of the extended hours (from a talk at DD's primary school) was that it would allow more time for less academic subjects- art, music, dance, languages etc, which I think is a good thing.

Can you make link clicky thanks

I can't see how it will work for children who have long bus journeys to school. Many country kids already have an extra forty minutes or more travelling time at both ends of the day. The poor things will be exhausted if the school day is extended further, particularly if there is homework to do on top.

Art/music/sport are often touted as being ideal subjects for children to do after school whilst their parents work. These subjects all require a great deal of planning, space, high adult/child ratio and resources. We have a v large primary with two playgrounds, one hall and one field-where would the 20+ classes of 30 actually go between 3.15-6? Who would look after them? If it's outside agencies-someone will have to pay for them. If it's teachers-someone will have to pay them.

If they are bring looked after in the classrooms by someone other than the teacher-how will the teacher mark/assess/do wall displays/set up for the next day/print off/laminate, if there are children in the classroom until 6pm? If the teachers are teaching for an extra 2/3 hours a day-when will they do their current marking/assessing etc?

I cannot see a plausible practical way in which it can work.

dance schools, music teachers etc would also feel the pinch as I for one would have my children in bed as soon as home - mind you I would try home edu first - but then they miss out on socialising etc :-/

Children have to have a childhood we did why should they be any different, and I appreciate that people have reasons for agreeing - your not wrong for saying so. I can see how this would help some people in given situations.

How's it all going to be paid for?

Because it will have to be.

It would affect all sort of sports clubs as well-football teams, trampolining, swimming lessons. These are currently held at sports venues and parents take their child to them. If children are at school, they can't be taken. If children from schools A,B,C,D and E all attend eg hockey club at venue X, the children now all have to stay at school so the hockey club decides to try holding their weekly event at school A as they're the only one with a field, children at the other schools won't be able to get there. The wear and tear on their field would need to be considered, too. It won't help our future athletes/footballers/gymnasts of the future, will it? I would imagine we wouldn't pose a threat to international competitors for long.

Clubs like Rainbows/Beavers/cubs would dry up as not only would nobody be able to get there (them all bring still at school), all the ones round here are run by teachers-who would presumably still be at school...

I am against this for a number of reasons.

1, I had a child knowing the hours that school was open and planned my life/work around that. I want to spend time with my daughter after school, not get her home, shovel some food in and then send her to bed.

2, My child does a number of out of school activities, including 2 hours of tutoring per week. My dd has struggled at school and the tutoring has helped her where the school didn't/couldn't. if she has to be at school until 6pm she the tutor will have to be cancelled

3, When will children ever have time to have friends home to play? Social interaction is an important part of life

4, if the plans go ahead I will actually end up unemployed - I currently work for a company that gives tennis lessons to children after school - the majority of our coaching is between 4pm - 6pm, we would lose most of our clients and then I would lose my job.

5, If we bring in this rule our country will never produce a person that excels in any area of music or sport. Most professional sportsmen and musicians practiced several times a week as children - they won't have time to do this if they are in school until 6pm every day. Schools can not offer the expertise or facilities.

We are children for such a short part of our lives - our children should get the chance to be young and carefree, they should have the chance of fun activities and spare time - they are facing a lifetime of 40+ hour weeks and working until they are elderly.

Done. My 4 year old is shattered at the end of the day and in bed for 6.
Its fine for parents but what might be good for them is not necessarily good for the children.

Toad goes to a SN secondary. He travels for about an hour to get there.
He would be exhausted when he gets home and he's got an average journey.
What about the children that travel for up to 90 mins (at his school) to go to a school appropriate for their needs?

School starts between 8:30am-8:45am (to allow for traffic/weather). Children would be leaving home at 6:30am (including pick up for other children on the same minibus) and not getting home till near enough 7-8pm!

9am-6pm?? why don't they just build dorms and make every pupil a boarder?

I know there are plenty of kids who are looked after until 6pm but at least they get to have a break from the school environment.

I'm a sahm and carer to df so I don't need aftercare but if my kids came in at 6pm it would be tea then bed at 7pm so no family time. Of course some days I wished they were still at school until bed time but in reality no way!

Children need a change in environment after school, not more of the same. Maybe the government should provide funding to set up new buildings housing optional, subsidised cheap childcare which can be accessed by those who need it after and before school.

Clicky link here

I have signed. I want to spend time with my 5 year old ds in the evenings not have him in school until 6pm then home for dinner and straight to bed. He is in reception and is absolutely knackered when I pick him up at 3.25 so any longer just wouldn't be beneficial for him. To me it just seems like cheap childcare for working parents.

I would be suprised if Mr Goves longer hours ever happened.

Some commentators Think Mr Gs campaigning is not about schools but more about future Tory leadership battle

Top politicas are seldom saying what they really mean

There is far more to education than school. I'm appalled by the idea of longer school hours.

It's totally nuts. And i also think it's all talk and probably wont happen.

Number 1) i'm a childminder, so obviously i would miss out :)

Number 2) i also have two children. I think it would be absolutely insane for a my son to be at school for longer than DP is at work. What utter lunacy! Whatever happened to children having spare time and relaxing after school? DS has enough homework as it is at the age of 7, he doesn't need to be working or around his friends until 6pm. Plus, i would quite like to see them for more than a few hours a day.

Number 1) i'm a childminder, so obviously i would miss out

Oh yes-that's another job that would go if this plan comes into force.

Ballet/dance teachers
Swimming/sports/footie teachers
Child minders
Music teachers

Anything else?!

Ok from what I have googled just now, the proposal is to allow schools more freedom over hours & holidays - the way that academies & private schools already do.

It does not mean that schools will do this.

I think it could be good in some ways, if it is optional. There are some children who don't get to do music/sport clubs because their parents can't or won't pay for it. Or parents may not have transport or time etc.

Anyway I think it won't come to anything really, as I can't see many schools wanting this change.

That is no different to what happens now, then. Schools have after school clubs if they have the space, either funded by Pupil Premium money or by parents paying.

This is not news.