Compulsory after school club

[btrd]

Our son's primary school has started opt-out PE lessons after school, from 1530 to 1600, which most parents think is a great idea.

We don't, he is 5 years old, by the time we pick up, get home, in, changed, homework etc there's barely any time left for playing before it's dinner, supper then off to bed. The school wants to steal 2.5 hours a week of time with him away.

The academy runs two primaries in the area, one they are trialing this extra PE lesson during lunchtime, the other after school. Whichever is "more successful" will be compulsory from September, I suspect that many parents will think "great free parent-outsourcing"

Our son really likes school, but this feels like the straw the breaks the camel's back and we'll have to go for home education.

Can they do this? How long can they extend the day for? Until 5PM? 8PM? If we insist on removing him early can the school stop us?

Why don't they just keep the kids in Monday 9AM to Friday 8PM, I'm sure half the parents would love that, allow them to go off to their busy lives without the annoyance of having to look after children.

Basically they're extending the school day to 4pm and parents can't opt out. If a young child goes to bed at perhaps 7pm, the extra 30 minutes is a chunk of time that the child can no longer spend with the parents. Personally I'd be happy with it a couple of times per week but not every single day. However I don't see any options other than switching school, or perhaps organising other parents to fight the change and at least make it non-compulsory.

Does your child's school begin with A OP?

Please, whatever you do, don't remove him from school where he is mixing with all sorts of different people/social situations - he'd be stuck at home with you and only influenced by your horrid judgemental views!! Give the kid a chance!

Where did the glowing screens and crisps come from? They’re doing PE. I assume lots of parents like this because both parents need to work and after school care is e pensive so every little does help, and it’s a bonus that it’s something worthwhile. I assume you judge families with 2 working parents too?

Are they saying all kids have to stop every day?

I can understand at such a young age why that would be an issue although perhaps you can ofset by driving to pick him up instead of cycling home?

However your attitude is horiffic - why do you think you're the only parent who loves their child and cares about them just because you're working hours enable toy to collect him at 3.30 or because you aren't in paid employment?

You are jumping to all sorts of conclusions here... they are proposing adding half an hour... not 4 hours.. the leap from one to the other is immense. I would suggest that you talk to the school and ask about how the decision will be made and whether there will be parent consultation.

If he already cycles 2 miles to school each way, he is obviously fairly active, this would be beyond most 4 year olds on top of a full school day.

Ask the school if there will be an option to opt out if children have other sporting commitments locally. At that age, many of my kids' afterschool activities would have clashed with a 4pm finish.

Your child is young, maybe it will not be compulsory for YR and Y1. Again, speak to the school. As your child gets older, they will stay up later and be able for more activities in the afternoons. My DD is in year 6 and twice a week she has sports for an hour after school and then outside sports for an hour and a half. She also plays sports on the other days which even a year ago would have seemed impossible for her.

When you are in possession of the full facts, then you will be able to make the best decision for your family. To leap to the assumption that this change in the school day at your school means that all schools will shortly be demanding that children be at school from 8am until 5pm is somewhat of an illogical leap. Also to suggest that the only alternative would be to homeschool is also somewhat flinging the baby out with the bath water.

FYI - playtime, breaks and running around before and after school in the playground, is NOT the same as a PE lesson. Yes it's physical activity but it's mostly there to give the kids a mental break from the classroom. It's undirected time where they are free to do as they please, within reason of course.

This in no way officially counts as PE or excersise.

I think it's a great idea. Like it hers say, it's optional, so just opt out if it's not for you.

I think your comments about schools extending the day are ridiculous. If you can find me any examples of a state school who's hours are longer than 9-4 I'll eat my hat. Worrying that a school will suddenly start compulsory hours from 8-5 is just silly.

The extra PE (so it will be 7 lessons per week rather than 2) is there because the current school generation is obese and will die 5 years earlier than the previous generation (that's what we've been told). I'm not convinced there's any obese child at his school, but the ones causing this policy are the ones with parents who stick them in front of TV with crisps.

No idea what they plan on doing when it's snow outside - the hall is barely big enough to fit the entire school in for assembly.

We'll have to stop swimming on Thursdays (it's tight getting there on time now), and if the Beavers waiting list ever clears we'll probably not be able to do that either.

No problem with offering post-school voluntary clubs, but they already did that. Those will now run 1600-1700.

Spoke to another parent after dropoff, she agrees with us - we actually like that extra half hour with our children. Most parents in the playground though were saying "ooh an extra half hour off" (sic).

Erm, if it's opt-out, then why don't you just opt out?

I think my kids would bloody love extra PE. I wasn't sporty but I wasn't really given much chance/opportunity to develop such skills as a child. Surely with childhood obesity and general ill health on the rise, more physical activity can never be a bad thing.

I agree if you don't like it then take your precious little one out of school, but you wouldn't be doing him any favours if you did.

Also, did you mean to write "dinner, supper then off to bed"? Why not just dinner?

OP I feel for you. You just love your child so much more than those other parents.

Do you work? You're very judgemental of people who have to work and therefore will be grateful for an extended school day.

I'd be even more peeved if they did it during lunch time. Kids need time to eat and replenish their energy / brain etc not shove their food down their necks for an extra lesson. Or will they just push the school day back to 4 regardless. Better off looking for a new school now OP!

Your child's school sounds great. More physical activity. Some leeway at the end of the school day for parents to pick their children a tad later, plus later after school clubs to enrich the child life (and yes - help working parents pick up that bit later) And the fact they are trialling two different versions of extra PE and will choose the one that works the best.
If you do homeschool your Son, we will take your place!

I think it's way OTT. I wonder what the staff think of this too?

If it's opt-out, it's fine. If it become compulsory, it's not. But I doubt it does.

Speak to the school. They are still at the decision making stage. Make your thought known. The swimming / beavers etc point is very relevant.

It's only until 4pm OP! Most primary schools where I live don't finish until then anyway. Also, stop judging parents for working, I suspect most people would love to collect their children but HAVE to work. If this is your main worry in life then you're very lucky.

I want to know the practicalities of this.

Are you sure it is every day? Even a one form entry school would have to find 7 teachers/instructors and seven spaces(indoors in winter rain/snow) to accommodate 7 simultaneous pe lessons.Not to mention multiple sets of age and activity appropriate equipment. If as you seem to think this is five days a week I can think of very few schools that have either the space, staffing or finance to support this. A larger school would just multiply the issue. I know private schools often offer after school pe activities but they are usually better resourced, have access to transport etc.

Are you sure it is not one or two year groups a day?

Sounds an excellent idea to me, half an hour of PE each day isn't going to do any harm, and might actually do a lot of good. My ds does sport at school every single day and doesn't finish till 4.35 (admittedly a private school).

I wonder if this is the sugar tax levy being passed on to school for increased PE/Activity sessions.
I imagine this will become more common as time goes on.

I agree viques that this cannot be quite how this seems.

Because as PPs have noted, there are serious space and staffing issues that prevent whole schools being taught PE at the same time.

OP must have misunderstood some part of the proposal.

Isn't there a compromise somewhere of him doing 2 or 3 sessions? Is the session going to cost anything? Maybe it is a good thing for those less well off families?
Just because your child is so wonderfully active, doesn't mean all are. Many need encouragement.

I don't collect my kids until 6, because I work. Doesn't make you a better parent.

You're complaining about extra exercise and social opportunities for your child that will still finish by 4?

My school finished at 4 anyway. But my kids finish at 1, then I have to run around trying to get them to different activities. I'd be delighted if they got that in school.

"there's no guarantee they won't instigate 8AM-5PM mandatory days down the line"

Oh please fuck off with your over dramatic crap.