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

[Normalisavariantofcrazy]

As a working mum I'm all for the extension in hours.

An admission which has probably meant I've committed mumsnet suicide!

[rollonthesummer]

Normalisavariantofcrazy --what would you want your children to do in the extra hour? Are you prepared to pay?

[Goldmandra]

An admission which has probably meant I've committed mumsnet suicide!

Can you explain why you feel that what's right for you should be compulsory for everyone?

[diplodocus]

Flexible, high quality wrap around care for those who need it - yes.
Compulsory education 9-6 - absolutely not. However I'm not worried as it will never happen.

[Normalisavariantofcrazy]

At the age they are now - primary - I would expect that age to be extra curricular activities and not formal learning.

At secondary I'd expect homework clubs as well as extra curricular activities

[rollonthesummer]

Flexible, high quality wrap around care for those who need it

I agree, this is very desirable. It will never be cheap though and the government will never fund it. I wonder how much the parents who want it, would be prepared to pay?

[OwlCapone]

But... what justification would those mummies have for not working

Perhaps your opinion would count for more if you put it forward without the nasty and rather pathetic snipes at SAHMs.

[Normalisavariantofcrazy]

Also if it were used for extra curricular activities, sports, music, swimming classes etc that affords children who are from less well off families the chance to try new activities

[BehindLockNumberNine]

I agree with Rooners, the petition wording is awful and it comes across as badly thought out and badly presented.

Therefore, I am not signing it.

Am not worried, I work in a school, the feeling here is that there is no way the government can afford to pay for this idiotic plan, this is a non-issue in my book.

[Goldmandra]

Also if it were used for extra curricular activities, sports, music, swimming classes etc that affords children who are from less well off families the chance to try new activities

The justification for forcing it on every family?

[Normalisavariantofcrazy]

And why should your way be the right way?

[morethanpotatoprints]

MrsYoung

Some people don't live their lives to work though, some of us enjoy taking our dc to activities and classes that no school could offer the same standard as.

Have you considered how many people would lose business or even livelihood if this went ahead?

It won't happen anyway, its just unworkable.

[PortofinoRevisited]

My dd's school is open til 6. School finishes at 3.30, snack time. They have a supervised homework session from 4 til 4.45 then play outside if the weather is OK or play games inside if not. "Play" being a very important word here. She would get the homework even if I collected her at 3.30. She concentrates on it better at school. And dd likes to have the chance to play with her friends and moans if I turn up too early to collect her. It is not compulsory - nor are the UK proposals either from what I can see. The school also has various music/drama activities that run during this period which are run by outside agencies/persons and payable as such.

I am bit bemused that gettiing to play with your friends after school is seen as such of a hellish proposition.

[rollonthesummer]

Also if it were used for extra curricular activities, sports, music, swimming classes etc that affords children who are from less well off families the chance to try new activities

Do people really think that music and swimming classes will be offered free??!

[Goldmandra]

My understanding is that is would be compulsory as it an extension of school hours, not after school clubs.

I am bit bemused that gettiing to play with your friends after school is seen as such of a hellish proposition.

Nobody has said that playing with friends after school is a hellish proposition. My DD2 does it at home, at friends' houses and outside

[rollonthesummer]

My dd's school is open til 6

Exactly the point I made earlier. Schools that have the need for this or the funding via pupil premium are doing it already. For Gove to push through new proposals-he cannot be talking about the sort of provision that currently exists in many schools. This must be a different plan.

Mumsnet HQ-please can you invite Mr Gove on for a chat so we can find out the plan??

[Mishmashfamily]

mummy has it spot on.

I'm lucky enough dp wage can support me to be a SAHM but for many lone parents I think they could be in for trouble. People forced in to taking unsuitable jobs could seriously put our kids in poverty.

I hope the government have some amazing teachers coming through as they will be the primary carers of our kids. To be Honest I think they struggle for the time they have with them now! How many kids come out of school struggling to read and write? I know some teachers and no way would I let them look after my dog for eight hours they are just out of uni

Oh it looks great on paper but where is the money going to come from to pay for the fantastic subjects they are going to introduce ? Schools can't afford new books, where the hell are they going to get the money for specialist teachers and equiptment from.

The government we have are a bunch over over paid wankbadgers. They are not doing this for the benefit of the kids.

They tell us Britain is broken, where has the family unit gone? But they want to take our kids out of the family home for eight hours a day! It's not like wrap around child care, it is indeed compulsory .

I like spending time parenting my dd, I won't be spending two hours a day with her from mon- fri , I'll be home Edding.

The government with its fucking biblical commandments can fuck the fuck off, then fuck off some more.

Don't be fooled in to thinking the government are doing you or this county a favour, they are all liars and manipulators.

Rant over.

[MollyWhuppie]

I think it's very naive to think there would be anything quality about this compulsory after school 'care'. It would completely take any choice away from parents with regards to what care their children have if they work, and completely disregards the value of interested sahp, or parents that work part-time or work around their children so that they can be there for them, help with homework, take them to activities etc.

This government seems hell bent in taking any autonomy parents have over their own children away.

I think a move like this will push more parents to send their children to private school if they can possibly afford it, leaving those who can't in a shit system and the gulf between the 'haves' and 'have nots' widening further.

[rollonthesummer]

Quote of the day: The government we have are a bunch of over paid wankbadgers

[rollonthesummer]

It's not like wrap around child care, it is indeed compulsory

Do we have any links/evidence for that? It seems everyone is very confused about what's actually being proposed.

[Mishmashfamily]

This government seems hell bent in taking any autonomy parents have over their own children away

Yes, obviously we're not to be trusted to know what's best for our kids.

Arf at the public school up thread! Sounds jolly!!!

[IamInvisible]

I've signed, although it won't affect my DC because DS2 is in Yr12 but I do feel quite strongly about it.

I see it as another way that this bunch of tossers want to decide what is right for our children and erode our rights as parents and people

They want to force all parents into work, regardless of their health status, if it is right for their own family, or if they have SN children who may need extra care.

They don't care about the dynamics of the family, they don't care that children are people with feelings and might actually want to spend some time with their parents. None of that matters. All they care about is getting as many people possible in a job, any job, to bring in revenue, hence providing a compulsory school day from 8:30-6:00.

[Retropear]

Mrs sahps don't need justification for not working thanks.We can do what we damn well please.We don't have to justify our choices to anybody,some of us have worked and saved damn hard for this period in our lives and we make choices based on the needs of our kids not what Gove et al think we should do.

As it happens kids often need you and time at home more as they get older.

Have to say when I return to work I still wouldn't want my kids in school that long and would do my utmost to ensure it didn't happen.

It will be the poorest section of society who won't have a choice.

[doitmyself]

If it was optional I'd be all for it. DS loves school and school gives me a break. He doesnt see his friends after school as their parents never invite him over because he is in a wheelchair so is bored and lonely every evening. Currently football and after school activities are done by an outside company that wont let the disabled kids join.
So done right I'd be all for it.

[doitmyself]

Oh, and I'd be able to work.