Number of break times in year 3 -ks2

[Orangesandlemons82]

I just wondered once your children are in year 3 how many play times they have? Up until this point, there has been a short break morning and afternoon, in addition to a lunchtime break. Now my DS is in year 3 they no longer have an afternoon break and the school day is also slightly longer. My son is really struggling without that short break in the afternoon to play and let off steam. Homework has also increased considerably. I just feel really sorry for him. He is only 7 and is starting to not enjoy school now.

I have never taught in a school that has a break in the afternoon for KS2. I'm sure there must be some, but none around me!

Thanks @spanieleyes. I was surprised as I had no idea it was normal. I think I am looking back at my own primary education where we always had 3 breaks.

DD is year3...she has 15 mins in morning and a hour for lunch.

Very normal for KS2 to not have an afternoon break.

The afternoon is quite short though usually. How long is it from end of lunch till end of day? At my DC’s school it’s only 90 minutes I think.

Ok, I'm glad I asked on here before I became 'that parent'! Lunchtime ends at 1. Pick up is 3.25

Not really what you asked, but DD has just started reception and has no afternoon break either - i was surprised too as it was definitely standard when i was at school.

Wow no break for reception class!!! Our reception class is majority free play with maybe 15-30 mins of sit down learning.

No afternoon break in KS2 here either..... Both mine found it difficult at first in Yr 3. We don't get much homework though... Reading and 1 page of maths and comprehension at most plus 10 spellings

My dd's school have an afternoon break for KS2. They actually extended the school day about 5 years ago to make time for an afternoon break because they felt the children would benefit from it. DD really values that extra break, as she finds lessons really intense so some running around time is brilliant for her.

Many schools don't have an afternoon break past EYFS. A bit sad imo.

I'm in Scotland and the primary school has never had a break in the afternoon whether Primary 1 or older

Once in KS2 there is no afternoon break at dcs school, they get 15minutes on a morning and 45 minutes for lunch.
Morning lessons are usually, maths English, topic and extended writing afternoon is PE, art, french, forest school.

We don't have morning or afternoon breaks for our Reception children! We are very play-based, so they spend almost all day free-flowing between inside and outside exploring and investigating, so we don't stop them doing this, just to run around a playground.

In the last half term, they start to have a morning break.

Anyway, to answer your question, years 3 -6 where I work don't have an official break time, but if their teacher feels like they need one, he/she just takes them out.

I’ve never known KS2 to have an afternoon break. I only remember morning and lunch breaks when I was at junior school as well (1970s).

Our Reception class doesn’t have any “break” as such (apart from lunch) because it is very much free flow at this point. Formal breaks are introduced in the last term of reception to prepare them for the more structured year 1.

We had an afternoon break at primary school in the nineties.

The one I volunteer in doesn't have one. The morning break is 15 minutes.

Lunch is at 12.15 till 13.15 staggered with KS1's 11.45-12.45 due to 90 children per year group and one dining hall.

Home time is 3.15. There is usually more than 1 thing planned for the afternoon so there is a natural break but if they children are getting ants in their pants (usually year 3's) then we get them to stand behind their chairs and have a little dance.

Thanks everyone. It appears it is normal now and things have changed since I was at school

Unfortunately, it is normal now. I started doing supply in primary schools about 20 years ago and most had an afternoon break for KS2. I can't say exactly when it changed but the school I work in now doesn't even have an afternoon break for KS1

Our primary school does it for ks2.

Well obviously it's silly and bad practise but it's fairly common unfortunately. I assume due to the pressure schools are under financially.